


•>v. 



mam 





Glass . 






MEMOIRS. 



MEMOIRS 



LIFE AND RELIGIOUS LABORS 



EDWAED HICKS, 



LATE OF 



NEWTOWN, BUCKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, 



WRITTEN BY HIMSELF. 



PHILADELPfflA : 
Merrihew & Thompson, Printers, 
No. 7 Carter's Alley. 
1851. 




A TESTIMONY 

Of Mmkefield Monthly Meeting^ concerning our beloved Friend, 
Edward Hicks, deceased. 

He was born in Attleborough, Bucks county, Pa., the 4th day 
of Fourth month, 1780. His parents were Isaac and Catharine 
Hicks. His mother, who is represented as a pious member of the 
Episcopal church, dying in his infancy, Elizabeth Twining, a 
kind friend, out of regard for the mother and sympathy for the 
child, took him to her home ; where he received the advantage of 
kind maternal care. Ofttimes has he publicly acknowledged the 
lasting benefit he derived from her early religious care and 
instruction. She frequently read to him from the New Testament, 
instructing him in the doctrines contained therein; and such 
were the impressions then made on his tender mind, that their 
influence was not entirely lost in his subsequent deviations from 
the path of rectitude. He often held up to mothers, and those 
having the care of the young, the example of this worthy woman ; 
entreating them to "go, and do likewise," which he called 
" bringing children to Christ." 

After leaving his adopted mother, he was exposed to various 
temptations, both while at school, and during his apprenticeship 
in a country village. Deprived of religious instruction, and all 
restraint upon his moral conduct, and being of a lively, volatile 
disposition, his company was sought by that class who indulge in 
" foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in perdition," and, 
for a time, he joined with them in vanity and folly. But, as he 

1* 



V 



used to relate to his friends, (with gratitude to his heavenly 
Father for his protecting care,) he was followed by the witness for 
Truth in his own mind, so as to be preserved from any act of 
gross immorality, that w^ould leave a stain upon his character in 
the sight of men. 

About the twenty-first year of his age he was favored with a 
renewed visitation of Heavenly love ; and yielding thereto, he 
passed through the dispensation of condemnation, which he 
viewed as the baptism unto repentance, by which his former 
pleasures were marred, and the friendship and glory of the world 
were stained in his view; and the dispensation of justifica- 
tion was opened before him, "with promise of the life that 
now is, and of that which is to come,^' and yielding obedience 
to the heavenly call, he was made willing to part with all for the 
pearl of great price ! In order for help, he attended the meetings 
of several religious societies ; but finally joined in membership 
with Friends of Middletown Monthly Meeting, Bucks county. 
About the twenty-third year of his age he was joined in marriage 
with Sarah, daughter of Joseph and Susanna "Worstal, of Newtown, 
with whom he lived in near afiection to the close of his life. He 
continued within the verge of Middletown Monthly Meeting 
several years ; and about the 30th year of his age he came forth 
in the ministry, deeply in the cross to his natural will ; but the 
Master of Assemblies owned him therein, covering the meetings 
with that solemnity which is precious and comforting to those 
present. 

In the year 1811 he removed to Newtown; where but few 
Friends resided. An indulged Meeting was soon opened in the 
village, and after some time a meeting-house was built, and a 
Meeting settled. Being faithful, he grew in his gift and became 
an eminent minister of the Gospel ; adorning the doctrine he 



preached, by a life corresponding tlierewith. He travelled much 
in the ministry ; and being favored with a comprehensive mind, 
a clear vision, and ready utterance, he was enabled, when clothed 
with Gospel authority, to open and explain the doctrine of 
the Christian religion, in a clear and forcible manner, to large 
assemblies of different denominations. He was often led to testify 
ao-ainst a hireling ministry, as one of the darkest clouds resting 
on Christendom ; and against a hypocritical and self-righteous 
state ; also, against a luke-warm and libertine condition, his 
testimonies were often severe. Some being offended therewith, 
spread reports against him; but he continued his course, unmoved 
by such insinuations ; his popularity appea.ring a small thing in 
his view. A highway was opened before him, to preach the 
Gospel to the people generally, without regard to sects or parties. 
But, although his doctrine was severe to those classes, yet to the 
penitent, to the returning prodigal, the sinner awakened to a 
sense of his guilt, and to the seeking children, his doctrine 
dropped as the dew, and distilled as the small rain upon the 
tender plant ; encouraging these to return to the Fathei*^s house, 
where there is bread enough and to spare, and where none need 
perish with hunger. 

With the approbation of his Friends, after visiting the meetings 
near home, he went to distant parts : to Upper Canada, and the 
Yearly Meetings of New York, Baltimore, Ohio, Indiana, and 
Gennesee, and to meetings within their limits. When his service 
was over, he was careful to return, without unnecessary delay ; 
and it appears that his Gospel labors were not only acceptable, 
but instructive and edifying. 

And while he was " fervent in spirit, serving the Lord," he was 
also "diligent in business," laboring with his hands for the 
support of his family, so that he could say with the apostle. 



8 

*^ these hands have ministered to my necessities, and those that 
were with me." 

It was his concern frequently to attend funerals ; where, in 
large audiences of different professions, opportunity was afforded 
to preach the Gospel in the demonstration of the spirit, and with 
power. But at funerals out of our Society, he was careful, if he 
felt an ability to engage in his Divine Master^s cause, to inquire 
if the family and connexions were willing. In this he had an eye 
to the command of our Saviour, " Whatsoever ye would that men 
should do to yoUj do ye even so to them." And as we would not, 
on such occasions, approve of the services of those not of our 
Society, we should also be careful not to intrude ours on them. 

He was also concerned for the support of the Discipline of 
Society, believing that it was a hedge about us; and the 
disposition to change it gave him uneasiness. 

For many years he was afflicted with a cough, which of latter 
time increasing, attended with shortness of breath, disabled him 
for distant journeys. lie, however, diligently attended his 
meetings at home, and frequently those in the vicinity ; and with 
the unity of his Friends at home, (which he always esteemed 
precious,) he appointed meetings in school-houses, and other 
places remote from any house of public worship ; and though his 
bodily strength was declining, yet his voice remained strong and 
clear. The meetings were generally large and highly favored. 
But a few weeks previous to his death, his cough and debility 
increasing, he felt easy to remain at liome, as it was difficult for 
him to sit in meetings. 

An intimate friend calling to see him a short time before his 
death, found him in his shop, busily engaged in painting, (it 
being the only business he was able to follow.) He informed the 
friend that he had no prospect of living through the Eighth 
month ; that he was comfortable ; his cough hurt him very little? 



9 

and that he had never been so happy at any time of his life ! His 
concern as a minister, that had rested on him for nearly forty 
years, was removed; and it had left him in peace! He rejoiced 
in being released from the burden, and felt his sufferings as 
nothing ; feeling the evidence, that w^ith all his failings, eccentri- 
cities, and short-comings, he had done what he could; "he had 
finished the work that was given him to do, and kept the faith/' 
Upon the same friend visiting him a week or two after, he found 
him still at work ; and remarked that he appeared better, and as 
the Eighth month was fast passing away, he hoped that he would 
live through it. He replied, " it might be so ; he was resigned* 
but had no prospect or desire to continue ! Death had no terror, 
and the grave would have no victory over him ! My impression 
is," he continued, " that I shall go suddenly, without much pain 
or suffering, and with very little warning to my family/' 

He continued painting till the day before he died, when, 
finding himself very weak, he returned to the house, saying he 
" believed that he had paid his last visit to the shop I" The next 
morning his daughter observed, she " thought him better." He 
replied, he "was better; he was comfortable ; but requested they 
would not flatter themselves, for he was going to die." 

He remained in his chamber, so quiet and easy, that his family 

were not alarmed till afternoon, when he appeared to be sinking ; 

he remained calm and easy, speaking to all that came to see him. 

A short time before his close he said, 

" Oh ! ^tis a glorious boon to die, 
That favor can't be prized too high." 

Thus he descended the "valley of the shadow of death," 
fearing no evil. About 9 o'clock on the evening of the 23d of 
Eighth month, 1849, in the 70th year of his age, he breathed his 
last, without apparent pain or suffering ! 

On the 26th his remains were interred from the Meeting-house 



10 

at Newtown, attended by a great concouse of people ; after which 
a large and solemn meeting was held, wherein the language went 
forth, '^]Know ye not that there is a prince, and a great man fallen 
this day in Israel ?" Several testimonies were borne to his worth, 
and to the excellency of that Divine and heavenly gift, by which 
he was raised from a low estate, and favored with an undoubted 
assurance of an inheritance with the Saints of Light. 

"Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the end of 
that man is peace." 

Signed by direction of Makefield Monthly Meeting of Friends, 
held at Newtown, 10th of Fourth month, 1851. 

Joseph Flowers, 
Sarah P. Flowers, 

Clerhs. 

N. B. The above Memorial was not forwarded to the Quarterly 
or Yearly Meeting,but is simply the testimony of his own Monthly 
Meeting, from whose minutes it has been transcribed. 



INTRODUCTION. 

A VERY dear friend^ who I am certainly bound to love and 
respect, has just been trying to persuade me to submit the 
following Narrative, &c., — which was never intended or expected 
to pass for a Friend^s journal — to the Meeting for Sufferings. But 
the arguments he made use of, if they proved anything, appeared 
to me to prove too much, and therefore confirmed me in the course 
I had adopted. At the same time, they furnished additional 
evidence that an imposition has been practised in the Christian 
Church, from the earliest ages of the apostacy, down to the 
present time, by eulogizing sinners, many years after they have 
been dead, as saints, how unlike is this to those holy men 
of old, who wrote as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, which 
the divine Saviour promised his disciples the Father would send, 
in his name, who should " teach them all things, and bring all 
things to their remembrance whatsoever they had heard of him/' 
Under the influence of this blessed spirit, the inspired writers 
handed down to posterity the characters of David, king of Israel, 
and Peter, the prince of the apostles, with their virtues and their 
vices standing out in bold relief, for succeeding generations to 
see and judge for themselves. 

It was under the influence of a portion of this good spirit, I 
humbly trust, I wrote the following Narrative, &c., in which I 
have tried to make a statement of facts, according to the best of 
my limited understanding, and if I have found fault, and accused 
some of my brethren and sisters, exposing their sins and foibles, 
I have certainly tried, with as great propriety, to include myself; 
and should any think I have been too sparing in the exposure of 



12 

my own sins and foibles, I am more than willing that my enemies 
should enlarge upon them to the utmost extent of the truth, the 
whole truth, and almost beyond the truth, rather than my friends 
should take a name (that might better be consigned to the gulf 
of oblivion) and impose it upon posterity for what it never 
merited. 

My constitutional nature has presented formidable obstacles to 
the attainment of that truly desirable character, a consistent and 
exemplary member of the Religious Society of Friends -, one of 
which is an excessive fondness for painting, a trade to which I 
was brought up, being connected with coach making, and 
followed the greatest part of my life ; having been unsuccessful 
in every attempt to make an honest and honorable living by a 
more consistent business ; and now in the decline of life, near my 
seventieth year, with a body reduced to a mere skeleton, racked 
by a tremendous cough, with scarcely breath and strength at 
times to breathe or walk, I should be a burthen on my family or 
friends were it not for my knowledge of painting, by which I am 
still enabled to minister to my own necessities and them that are 
with me, through the kind patronage of a few noble, generous 
Friends, and friendly people, who, in my case, practically answer 
that query in our Christian Discipline, "Are poor Friends' 
necessities duly inspected, and are they relieved and assisted in 
such business as iliey are capable ofP^ 



MEMOIR. 



Newtown, A.tli mo. 4:t7i, 1843. 
I am, this day, sixty-three years of age, and I have thought 
right to attempt, at least, to write a short narrative of my life, 
"by way of testimony to the mercy and goodness of a gracious 
God, through Jesus Christ, my blessed Lord and Saviour. And 
here it would be proper to try to explain what I mean by the 
term Saviour, for I shall make a free use thereof. I have 
been charged by some of my friends, with ambiguity of ex- 
pression, and I think treated rather rudely, both publicly and 
privately, for making use of this sublime and appropriate 
word, Saviour, 

I have been, more especially during the last years of my 
life, renewedly concerned to be established in a unity of be- 
lief with the primitive saints and the primitive Quakers. First 
with the beloved disciple, John, where he says, ''In the be- 
ginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the 
word was God.^^ "All things were made by him, and with- 
out him was not anything made that was made.^^ ''In him 
was life, and the life was the light of men." This light, that 
lighteneth every rational soul that cometh into the world, 
shineth in darkness, but the darkness comprehendeth it not, 
for men love darkness rather than light, because their deeds 
are evil; nevertheless, this is the true light, that can only 
give true sight to the rational soul, and it is only this true 
sight, that can give a true sense of the soul's sinful state; 
and it is this sense that gives a right sorrow, and this sorrow 
a true repentance, not to be repented of, and such repentance 
gives an admittance within the inclosure of the glorious attri- 
bute of mercy, which pardons guilty man. Such immortal 



14 

souls are born again of water and of tlic spirit, washed in tlie 
laver of regeneration. These are the babes in Christ, to whom 
the revelation of his will is made. These feeling their need 
of a Saviour, are true believers in Jesus Christ, as the eternal 
Word, that was in the beginning with God. This was the 
"Word that was manifest in the flesh, justified in the spirit, 
seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the 
world, and received up into glory. This was the Word that 
took flesh (or ^^ was made flesh'') which he had prepared for that 
purpose, and dwelt among the Israelites. And such of the Jews 
as were obedient to the light, were quickened by the life, to 
behold the glory of this manifestation of the eternal Word, as 
the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of gi-ace and 
truth. This is the Christ Jesus that Paul confidently believed 
had come into the world to save sinners, of whom he declared 
he was chief; and that this Christ was the Son of God, by 
whom he had spoken, in these last days, to the children of 
men, and whom he had appointed heir of all things, and by 
whom he had made the worlds, who being the brightness of 
his glory, and the express image of his person, he upheld all 
things by the word of his power. To all them that look in 
the light for this glorious appearance of the great God, and our 
Saviour Jesus Christ, Paul has encouragingly declared, that 
he will appear a second time, without sin, unto salvation. 

Secondly, I sincerely unite with the primitive Quakers, in a 
belief of the great doctrines of the Christian religion, and 
shall quote a short testimony of William Penn, where he 
abundantly sheweth, from scripture, the propriety of the word 
Saviour, as applied to God and Christ. "I, even I, am the 
Lord, and beside me there is no Saviour/' and ^^thou shalt 
know no God but me, for there is no Saviour beside me.'' And 
Mary said ^^My spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour/' and 
the Samaritans said unto the woman, "Now we know that this 
is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world." " According 
to this grace made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour 
Jesus Christ." "Simon Peter to them that obtained like pre- 
cious faith with us, through the righteousness of God and our 
Saviour Jesus Christ." "For, therefore, we suffer reproach, 
because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all 
men." "To the only wise God, our Saviour, be glory." 
'^From which/' continues dear William Penn, ^' I conclude 



15 

CJirist to be God, for if none can save, or be styled properly 
a Saviour but Grod, and yet that Christ is said to save, and is 
properly called a Saviour, it must needs follow that Christ the 
Saviour is Grod.'^ These are William Penn's own words, with 
which I do most cordially unite, especially where he adds, ''I 
sincerely and unfeignediy believe — by virtue of the sound 
knowledge and experience received from the gift of that holy 
unction and divine grace inspired from on high — in one holy, 
just, merciful; almighty and eternal God, who is the Father of 
all things, that appeared to the holy patriarchs and prophets 
of old, at sundry times and after divers manners; and in one 
Lord Jesus Christ, the everlasting wisdom, divine power, true 
light and only Saviour and preserver of all: the same one^ 
holy, just, merciful, almighty and eternal God.'' This is the 
Saviour to whose arms I verily believe my dying mother com- 
mended her infant son, whose undying love kindled the first 
devotional fire or feelings on the altar of my heart This is 
the Saviour I was led to love in my infancy, adore in the ma- 
turity of manhood, and has now become the rock of my sal- 
vation, as I stand upon the brink of an eternal world. 

Having now given, I hope, explanation enough to satisfy 
any reasonable person, professing to be a Christian, of what I 
mean by the word or term Saviour, I shall not attempt fur- 
ther to satisfy the quibbling skeptic, but proceed with my nar- 
Tative. 

I was born in the village of Attleborough, Middletown 
township, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, the fourth of the Pourth 
month, called April, 1780. My parents were Isaac and 
Catharine Hicks, both regularly descended from Thomas Hicks, 
spoken of in the Journal of our ancient friend Samuel Bow- 
nas, as was also my late distinguished kinsman, Elias Hicks.. 
I am thus particular, as I write principally for my children, 
and do not wish that some peculiar circumstances, in relation 
to our family, should be lost. 

Our progenitor, Thomas Hicks, appears to have been a j;ia- 
tive of Long Island, and I find from the journal, or writings 
of that faithful blacksmith, Samuel Bownas, who followed the 
Saviour in the path of humble industry, that when he was on 
a religious visit to Long Island, in 1702, he was sued at the 
law by the Episcopal priests, among whom was the apostate 
Quaker preacher, George Keith; and their party being at the 



16 

head of government, lie was thrown into prison at Jamaictf, 
for bearing a faithful testimony against the ecclesiastical ma- 
chinery of a merce^iary priesthood ; at which time, Samuel 
says, an honest old man, his name was Thomas Hicks, who 
had been chief justice in the province some years, and was 
well versedin the law, came to visit me ; and on my standing 
lip to pay my respects to him, he took me in his arms, salut- 
ing me with tears, and thus expressed himself, "Dear Samuel^ 
the Lord hath made use of you, as an instrument, to put a 
stop to arbitrary proceedings in our courts of justice, which 
have met with great encouragement since Lord Cornbury has 
been governor; but there has never so successful a stand been 
made against it, as at this time; the eyes of the country are 
so clearly opened by your case. Had, says he, the Presby^ 
terians stood as you have done, they had not so tamely left 
their meeting-houses to the church. But that people had 
never so good a hand at suffering in the cause of conscience^ 
as they have had in persecuting others that differed from 
them.^^ "This honest man/^ continues Samuel, " as if he had 
been sent by Divine commission, by his discourse, raised my 
drooping spirits.^' 

I think it is quite possible that there is a little too much 
vanity in mentioning here what dear old Elias Hicks once told 
me. He thought my father was more like this Thomas Hicks, 
than any branch of the family he ever knew or heard of, and 
I believe Elias further told me, that Thomas Hicks had nine 
sons, and that Colonel Isaac Hicks, my great grandfather, was 
one of them, and the same man that was on the jury at the 
time of Samuel Bownas' trial. 

My grandfather, Gilbert Hicks, (my father's father) married 
the daughter of Joseph Rodman, of Long Island, a consistent, 
active member of the Society of Friends, and the young man, 
not being a member, the marriage, of course, was clandestine, 
which was a cause of sorrow to the dear old friend. Notwith- 
standing this, he could not be inexorable, for he was a Chris- 
tian. He therefore received his daughter, with her husband, 
as his dear children, and thus addressed them, "I am old, and 
you are young, and would wish to be settled in life; I there- 
fore propose, that you go into the new countries, [as Pennsyl- 
vania was then called,] and settle on a tract of land, of about 
six hundred acres, that I own, near the river Delaware, on the 



17 

Nesliammy creek, twenty miles east of Pliiladelplila, and as it 
is worth at least three hundred pounds, more than would be a 
just proportion of your share of my estate, you must give me 
a bond for that sum, on my executing a deed that shall give 
you a substantial title. '^ 

The proposition of the good old Friend, was acceded to by 
his children, and in the winter of 1747 a.nd '48, they came on, 
and found a part of the land cleared, and a comfortable log 
house, where they were hospitably received by a family of the 
name of Vansant, and where my father was born, the twenty- 
first of the fourth month, 1748, (old style). After building 
for themselves a comfortable dwelling, "the first thing they did, 
was to sell off two hundred acres of the land, to Lawrence 
Growden, for three hundred pounds, with which they payed 
their father, and found themselves snugly settled on a farm of 
four hundred acres of first rate land, clear of all incumbrance ; 
enhancing in value daily, by the astonishing influx of European 
settlers. 

Whether it was their wealth, or their intelligence, or both, 
they certainly appear to have ol)tained a respectable standing ; 
for my grandfather received a commission from the royal go- 
vernment, as one of the justices of the peace for the county of 
Bucks. 

Either a fondness for public business, or getting tired of the 
labor and care of so large a farm, induced my grandfather to 
sell his large farm of four hundred acres, and to purchase a 
small one, coming to a point, in the south-east corner of what 
was then called Four-lanes-end, (now Attleborough), of one 
hundred acres. Here he built a spacious brick house, that is 
still standing ; and moreover, it appears, that having become 
wealthy, he devoted himself almost exclusively to public busi- 
ness, being promoted to the office of Chief Justice of the Court 
of Common Pleas. And now I shall record the circumstances 
of my grandfather's passing judgment upon two colored men, 
who were tried before him for some act that transported them 
to the West Indies, for life, as slaves. 

Notwithstanding the evidence against them appeared con- 
clusive, my grandfether had conscientious scruples as to the 
justice of the sentence. It appears that the voice of the spirit 
of truth, addressed to the ear of his soul, showed him plainly 
that he had better sacrifice his lucrative and honorable office, 

2* 



18 

and all the fiivor of the royal government, than pass the sen- 
tence of the law on the poor fugitives before him ; a sentence 
that must separate them from all their nearest and dearest con- 
nections in life, and send them as exiles, to die by the hand of 
oppression, in a foreign land. But my poor grandfather was 
then basking in the sunshine of prosperity, increasing in 
wealth. He was a politician, he had been an office-hunter, 
and was now an office-holder, and therefore would not give up 
to the heavenly vision. The consequence was, that in the re- 
turn of retributive justice, in less than seven years, he lost the 
object of his youthful affections, the wife of his bosom, the 
mother of his children; and by continuing his attachment to 
his royal master, in opposition to the American patriots, whom 
he imprudently insulted, he was driven from his home, his 
country, and property, and from every near and dear connec- 
tion in life, becoming an exile in a foreign land, where his 
days were suddenly ended by the hand of an assassin ; and his 
property being all confiscated, his family was reduced to 
indigence, if not to penury, Such was the end of my dear 
grandfather. 

Whilst he found an asyluin With the British army at New 
York, my father paid him his last visit, and on parting, my 
grandfather gave his son his last advice, in a language like 
this, " You are a young man^ and as you may be exposed to 
many temptations, my last and most serious advice to you is, 
never act contrary to your conscientious feelings; never diso- 
bey the voice of eternal truth in your own soul. Sacrifice 
property, personal liberty, and even life itself^ rather than be 
disobedient to a Heavenly visioii. I disobeyed this inward 
monitor, and am now suffering the due reward of my deeds. ^' 
Such were the last words of my dear old grandfather to his son^ 
on leaving New York with the British army, at the close of 
the ilevolution, for Nova Scotia. My venerable father, at the 
age of four score, related the circumstance to me, in such an 
impressive manner, that I had no doubt that he wished it 
handed down to posterity. I therefore record it for our benefit, 
hoping that the lesson of deep instruction it contains, may be 
a warning to our youth, from falling into the fatal error of 
Esau, who sold that precious birth^right, for a mess of pottage^ 
that he afterwards sought, with tears, but could not find. 

My grandfather^ Colonel Edward HickS; (my mother's fa- 



19 

ther,) was a fii'st cousin to the foregoing, and married Yioletta 
Kicketts, of Elizabethtown, N. J., a high church woman. 
They had twelve children, my mother being the youngest. 
Her eldest sister, Mary, married Bishop Seahury, of New 
York. 

Her two eldest brothers, William atid Edward, T was told, 
by George Dilwyn, who went to school with them in Burling- 
ton, were, as he thought, the two prettiest boys he ever 
saw, and I think, he added, the best scholars in the school. 
But an American school does not appear to have been sufficient 
for all high churchmen, for I find by papers noW in my pos- 
session, that uncle William was entered a student at law, in the 
Inner Temple, London, 1753. 

By letters written by my uncle Edward, that I have lately 
been furnished with, it appears that he Was an officer in the 
British army, and died, as it were, an untimely death, at Fort 
George, in the West Indies. 

My uncle William, after all the pains that was taken to give 
him a great scholastic education, was heard to lament in a lan- 
guage like this, ^' Ah, my poor deluded parents, they have only 
been concerned to put me in possession of all kinds of sense, 
but common sense V He was unfit to fill, with propriety, the 
social and relative duties of life, and notwithstanding he had 
warmly espoused the cause of the proprietors, and was such a 
favorite with the Penn family, that they put him into the 
Prothonotary's office, then the most lucrative office in the 
county of Bucks, his education had so fostered his natural 
pride and extravagance, that the want of common sense kept 
him poor, and, to add to his difficulties, his father, who was a 
merchant in New York, failed in his business, and became 
poor, no doubt fi'om the same causes, that is^ pride, extrava- 
gance and a want of common sense. 

Having been furnished recently, through the kindness of 
Doctor Gordon, with several letters written by my uncles 
William and Edward, I have been led to compare them with 
letters written by their cousin Elias Hicks, who was brought 
up in the path of humble industry. They are inferior in every 
characteristic of good writing, and no marvel that it should be 
so, for mark the diffiirence in their education. While the 
pretty boys and best scholars, as George Dilwyn called them, 
were going to high schools and colleges, those nurseries of 



20 

pride, indolence and effeminency, tlie bane of true republican- 
ism, and most efficient contrivance of Satan, for the destruc- 
tion of primitive Christianity, Elias was laboring hard through 
the day, at the useful and highly honorable trade of a carpen- 
ter, improving himself in the evening in useful knowledge, 
when others were asleep. The consequence was, the former, 
overwhelmed with pride, luxury, idleness and disease, sunk 
unnoticed, into an untimely grave. The latter arose from the 
path of humble industry, by virtue, knowledge, temperance, 
patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity, to be one 
of the most dignified practical Christians, Christendom ever 
saw, and after living for more than four score years, passed 
out of time into eternity, to be joined to the spirits of just 
men made perfect, to the general assembly and church of the 
first born, whose names are written in heaven; and leaving 
behind him a savour, grateful to surviving generations; a name, 
I hope, that stands gloriously enrolled on the records of 
eternity. 

My dear mother appears to have received, what I would call 
a bad education for a woman. She was brought up in pride, 
and idleness, and was the very reverse of a perfect woman, as 
set forth by the inspired poet, in the last chapter of Proverbs. 
It was such an education as was calculated to make, what the 
high church would call, a lady; a friend to kings and priests. 

But the tremendous turnings and overturnings that took 
place in the time of the Revolution, produced a great change 
in my mother's family, and the success of the American pat- 
riots, in laying the foundation of the present excellent govern- 
ment, deprived the royal aristocrats of their lucrative offices, 
reducing our family to comparative poverty. But the afflict- 
ing dispensation appears to have had a good effect upon my 
mother, for she was brought by the sanctifying influence of 
the ever blessed Truth, to her Saviour's feet, to wash them with 
tears, where, I have no doubt, she was concerned in a spiritual 
sense, to beg of her Saviour to take her unprotected infant son 
into his arms and bless him. And from the best information 
I am in possession of, and which seems confirmed by the im- 
pressions of my mind, my precious mother, on her death bed, 
was fully convinced of the blessed Truth, as held by Friends. 
For I understood she requested that there should be no super- 
fluity about her corpse or her coffin^ and that there should be 



21 

no monument of any kind placed at her grave, which appears 
to have been complied with, for when I went into what is 
called St. Mary's church-yard, in Burlington, to look for her 
grave, I could not find it. This seems the more extraordinary, 
as she had been educated and brought up a regular member of 
the Episcopal church, and the rest of her family that had died, 
had been buried in vaults, in the high church style. 

Thus ended the earthly pilgrimage of my mother, Catharine 
Hicks, on the 19th of the 10th month, 1781, in the 36th 
year of her age, in Burlington, N. J., leaving her poor little 
feeble infant under the care of her colored woman, Jane, who 
had been a slave in the family, and being left to shift for her- 
gelf, took me with her like her own child, for my father was 
now broken up, having no home of his own, or any busi- 
ness by which he could support and keep his children to- 
gether. 

This colored woman, Jane, worked about among the farmers 
in the neighborhood of Four-lanes-end, or Attleborough and 
Newtown, for a living, taking me with her. Being at the 
house of a friend, by the name of Janney, at the last-mentioned 
place, where Elizabeth, the wife of David Twining, was in the 
habit of visiting, she noticed a poor sickly-looking white child, 
who appeared to^ be under the care of a colored woman that 
seemed cross to it, and was led to inquire whose child it was. 
When informed that it was the youngest child of her dear 
deceased friend, Kitty Hicks, that she had seen about a year 
before in its mother's arms, dressed in rich and gay apparel ; 
her sympathy for the child and love for the mother, caused 
her to express herself on this wise : "Oh 1 that my husband 
was willing, I would take this child and bring it up as my 
own." My father was soon informed of this circumstance, 
and begged of her to take his poor little son as a boarder, 
which she agreed to do, with her husband's consent. 

David Twining was one of the most respectable, intelligent, 
and wealthy farmers in the county of Bucks, having been 
chosen one of the Provincial Assembly, though an exemplary 
member of the Society of Friends. His wife, Elizabeth, was 
just such a woman as is described in the last chapter of Pro- 
verbs. 

They had four daughters : Sarah, Elizabeth, Mary, and 
Beulah^ who was about fourteen years old. Sarah was mar- 



22 

ried soon after I was introduced into the family ; of course, I 
was not well acquainted with her until towards the close of her 
life J and, whatever might have been her domestic foibles, she 
certainly appeared to me one of the most dignified women I 
ever witnessed upon a death-bed. 

Elizabeth married William Hopkins, a plain, exemplary 
young friend of Philadelphia, and settled in that city. He 
died some years before his wife, in the house where they were 
married. Elizabeth died in New York, with a scirrhus or 
cancer in her breast. She was a respectable elder in the 
Society of Friends. 

Mary and Beulah, being younger, were more like my sisters, 
and, indeed, they seemed to have adopted me as their brother 
in my infancy, and ever manifested a sisterly kindness. Mary 
married Jesse Leedom, a member of the Society of Friends, 
the son of a wealthy and enterprising merchant and farmer of 
Northampton. They are both still living, worthy Friends, but 
well stricken in years. Mary seems nearly worn out, and 
should I survive her, I shall have to say, I have lost the best 
friend I have in the world out of my own family. She was 
more like her mother than any of her sisters. 

Beulah was the youngest, and possessed of more than ordi- 
nary powers. She was certainly calculated to be greatly good, 
but the improper indulgence of her eccentric self-will, threw 
her out of her orbit ; and, instead of being a fixed star in the 
firmament of God's power, that shines with new accessions of 
glory, and brightens to all eternity, she was more like the comet 
that takes an eccentric course among the constellations of 
heaven, and shines, or rather dazzles, only for a moment, and 
then sinks into oblivion. Dear adopted sister, Beulah E. 
Twining, thy history, which would furnish materials for one 
of the most interesting pernicious novels, I wish to record in a 
few words, for the instruction of such young women as may 
be possessed of such superior advantages. She was the favorite 
or pet of her father, and transacted the principal part of his 
business \ and the township library being kept in his house, 
she became excessively fond of reading, particularly novels, 
which, when her indulgent parents disapproved of, she took to 
her chamber and would read by moonlight. This act of diso- 
bedience to parents, soon, led the wayward young girl to do 
another act that too often breaks up the foundation of rational. 



23 

happiness in this world, obstructs the channel in which woman's 
most distinguished usefulness runs, and in her case, ended in liti- 
gation, confusion, and loss. She married a young Presbyterian 
Doctor, whose only recommendation was a handsome exterior, 
while there was nothing within to correspond with the pleasing 
appearance without, and hence the tie was too feeble to hold 
her affections, and she left him with the same self-will and 
determination in which she married him, and in direct oppo- 
sition to the advice of her parents, and the order of the religi- 
ous society of which she was a member. Her father dying about 
this time, left her a large estate, both real and personal. An 
application on her part for a divorce, brought on a vexatious 
and disgraceful law suit between her and her husband, which 
was only terminated through the management of a distinguished 
congressman from Connecticut, who advised her how to throw 
her cause into the Supreme Court of that State, and employ 
the eccentric but excellent Tappan Reeves for her advocate. 

Notwithstanding the formidable opposition of her husband, 
she obtained her divorce at the expense of all her personal 
estate, and a heavy incumbrance on the real; and, with a 
broken constitution, a crippled reputation, and a wounded spirit, 
she returned like the penitent prodigal to her father's house; 
and entering the path of humble industry, by superior manage- 
ment of a superior farm, she soon payed off all her debts, filled 
with a degree of propriety the social and relative duties of life, 
as the head of a family, and became reinstated a useful member 
of the Society of Friends. 

She was a sister I had reason to love ; she was a friend in 
need, and therefore a friend indeed ; and when she died in the 
11th month, 1826, with the disease of her sister Elizabeth, I 
felt that I had lost one of my best friends; a loss, too, that 
was not relieved by any consideration of gain, for, agreeable 
to my advice, she left me not one cent of her estate, which has 
caused me frequently to rejoice, when I saw myself clear of 
that ravening wolfish spirit that too often attends the settling 
of such estates. I have been thus particular, as I wish to 
leave some advice to young women, touching some points of 
my sister's history. 

And, first, I want to persuade them not to treat with dis- 
respect the counsel of goodly parents and guardians, in the 
choice of books and company, for these generally form the 



24 

common mind of young people ; and a young girl tliat will 
indulge her inclination to read novels, will soon be prepared 
toprefer bad company to good ; and hence, too, many loTcly 
young women, when they come upon the stage of life, enter 
the wide gate, and walk in the broad way that leads to the 
destruction of their peace and happiness in this world, if not 
in the world to come. Oh ! then, permit me to beseech you 
with a fatherly affection, for the sake of your present and 
everlasting happiness, and the happiness of mankind, to take 
up the cross of Christ, and deny that cursed self that leads to 
disobedience to parents. Never, never, dear children, ^'pierce 
with sorrow that breast that has been your support in your 
infantile years.^' And I will say to such of my dear friends 
who fill the responsible stations of parents and heads of families, 
keep to the advice of our excellent Christian discipline, with 
regard to the hooks that your children read, and the company 
they keep. I think I have lived long enough to experience 
the advantages of such care, and to see the consequences of 
trampling such advice under foot, in the situation of too many 
Friends, whose children finally became their oppressors. 

I now return to Elizabeth Twining, the mother of the women 
I have alluded to, whom I have already said was best described 
by the inspired poetry of the last chapter of Proverbs. She was 
certainly the best example of humble industry I ever knew 
for so wealthy a woman. It was this woman that it seems 
was providentially appointed to adopt me as a son, and to be 
to me a delegated shepherdess, under the great Shepherd and 
Bishop of souls. She had the simplicity and almost the inno- 
cence of a child. Being deprived of her parents in her child- 
hood, and left poor, she received no scholastic education, only 
learning to read after she was grown up ] yet she read the 
Scriptures with a sweetness, solemnity, and feeling I never 
heard equalled. How often have I stood, or sat by her, before 
I could read myself, and heard her read, particularly the 26th 
chapter of Matthew, which made the deepest impression on 
my mind. It was there that all the sympathy of my heart, 
all the finer feelings of my nature, were concentrated in love 
to my blessed Saviour. It was then, in his spiritual appearance, 
as a quickening spirit, that he kindled the first devotional fire 
on the altar of my heart, a fire that was not extinguished even 
by juvenile infatuation^ a fiire that was rekindled about the 



25 

twentj^-first year of my age, the light whereof led me to a 
Saviour's feet, whilst its genial warmth melted me into tears 
of repentance and love. 

What an inestimable blessing to a child is a truly humble 
Christian mother. They are made use of by that blessed spirit 
embraced in the figure of the householder, set forth by that 
inimitable parable (see Matthew, the 20th chap.) when they do 
as my dear mother did, go early in the morning, at the third 
hour, and get the child to agree for the penny to go into the 
Lord's vineyard; then when the invitation comes at the sixth 
hour, as the rational being comes to maturity, the heavenly 
visitation is most likely to be effectual, as in my case. But 
where early impressions are neglected, the loss that children 
sustain is almost incalculable, for although all young men and 
women are called, it is at a time when the waves of youthful 
passion roll the highest and are the most turbulent, which 
nothing but the power of a Saviour can still; but if he is not 
on board their little bark, how can he rise and still the storm; 
but if he is on board, the vessel cannot be lost, notwithstanding 
he may be asleep. Oh ! then, the infinite importance of intro- 
ducing children to a " Christ within the hope of glory." 

I continued under the care of my adopted mother, as a 
boarder, until I was turned of thirteen ; when my father finding 
himself disappointed in his prospect of making a great man out 
of a weak little boy, by scholastic learning or education, did 
the best thing that he could have done, by binding me out an 
apprentice to an industrious mechanic ; for here the propensity 
to idleness, for which I had a natural turn, was necessarily 
counteracted. What a pity other parents and guardians do 
not follow his example. We should have more humble in- 
dustry, and less pride, idleness, and covetousness : three of 
the greatest enemies to a republican government, and with 
dishonesty added to their company, the most formidable ene- 
mies of the Church of Christ. We should have more working 
men and good mechanics, and fewer priests and lazy ministers, 
whose consciences are seared as it were with a hot iron, having 
so little religious sensibility that they can live on the honest 
industry of poor silly women, male and female. We should 
have fewer lawyers, doctors, office-hunters, speculators, lec- 
turers, conjurers, and merely professing Christians, which the 
primitive saints would have disowned, as busy bodies, that 

o 



work not at all, (see 2 Thessalonians, 3d chap. 10, 11, and 12 

verses.) 

I saj, what a pity that parents and guardians conld not see 
what my father might have seen, that the more scholastic 
learning is wasted on a weak boy, the bigger blockhead he will 
become. Whether he made this discovery or not, at that time, 
i must leave ; one thing is certain, he was disappointed in my 
not taking learning, for he intended me for a lawyer, as he had 
made a doctor of my only brother Gilbert. But his ambitious 
views were baffled in us both, and our precious mother's dying 
prayers were answered. Grilbert took a religious turn, joined 
the Society of Friends, and became, what is a phenomenon in 
the faculty, a humble practical Christian, an honor to his pro- 
fession, and an innocent upright man, that had a word of ex- 
hortation as a minister before he died. 

My father might have succeeded more to his mind in the 
education of my only sister, two years older than myself, for 
she was put to a boarding school, and brought up in the gay 
world in pride and idleness. But, marrying a young man, 
who was in the path of humble industry, coming up on foot, 
she joined him in his journey, and they had advanced so far 
in the estimation of the people, that her husband had become 
high sheriff of the county ; and she herself, according to his 
testimony, looking towards uniting with her brother, when, 
by a sudden and affecting death, her course in this world was 
stopped. 

In the latter part of the 7th month, 1817, in the evening 
of the day, she had prepared supper, and stepped out to call 
her eldest son, a lad about six years old, who had become very 
fond of playing in a creek that ran near their dwelling, when 
she heard him cry for help. On running to the creek, where 
it was deep and the bank high, she saw him in the water, 
apparently drowning. A few feet up stream she crossed, and 
ran to his assistance. Her screams of distress alarmed her 
neighbors, and particularly her husband, who was writing in 
his office. When he came to the bank, six or seven feet above 
the water, and saw his wife and child in the deep below, he 
immediately jumped in to their assistance; but, being no 
swimmer, they were all three immersed together in a hole in 
the water, not more than ten feet wide and ten feet deei?. 

I think it is most likely my dear sister sunk soon after 



27 

getting into the deep water, never to rise alivej for she was 
within a month or two of her confinement. Her husband and 
child struggled longer, but were nearly gone, when a young 
man, about sixteen years of age, saved the child -, and the dying 
father, as he was sinking for the last time, laid hold of a board 
that had been run into the water by a colored man, and by 
which he was drawn to the shore, nearly dead, and was with 
some difficulty brought to. 

My poor dear sister's lifeless corpse was at last brought 
from the bottom of the deep hole, by the manly exertions of 
a sailor, but every attempt at resuscitation was in vain. Such 
was the tragical end of my dear sister Eliza Yioletta Kennedy, 
in the fortieth year of her age. 

At this sorrowful and affecting time I was sitting in a 
religious meeting, appointed for me at five o'clock in Rah way, 
between forty and fifty miles off in New Jersey. I dare not say I 
had an impression that something sorrowful had happened to me, 
but I think I recollect it was nearly a silent meeting, and I 
told the people that, for some reason or other, I had but little 
to communicate to them. And I very well remember that the 
friend from New York, that was with me, took me by the 
hand after the meeting broke, and said most emphatically, 
whilst his eyes were overflowing with tears, '' Edward, what 
is the matter V And I think that my prospect changed in 
that meeting, and instead of visiting a number of meetings in 
New Jersey, I concluded to come immediately home, and had 
I not been improperly detained at Kingston, I should have got 
to my dear sister's funeral. 

There are two considerations connected with her sudden and 
afflicting death that are relieving, and they are : a hope that 
she was looking towards Heaven, and that she died in the 
highest exercise of the finest feelings of her nature. 

Another pleasant reflection to me is, that the last interview 
we ever had was one of the most agreeable kind. I recollect 
she made some pertinent remarks respecting our having to 
give an account to an Omnipotent Saviour, who is Judge of 
quick and dead, for every idle word that we spoke. But, 
alas ! different, very different was the last interview between 
her and our poor dear father. Hence the shock of her sudden 
and affecting death must have been of the most painful cha- 
racter. 



28 

Before I leave my dear father, I will just advert again to 
his strong predilection in favor of scholastic education. In 
order to introduce my views more fully touching that subject, 
especially as it relates to the Church of Christ, I shall refer to 
a paper, now in my possession, that was presented to our 
monthly meeting, most cordially united with, and recorded 
amongst its minutes, viz ; " The committee appointed at last 
meeting to take into consideration the communication from 
the Yearly Meeting's committee, on the subject of schools, 
having met and conferred together, were united in believing 
that such information as was needful had already been for- 
warded to that committee in answer to their several interroga- 
tories ; and, if anything remained for the meeting to do, it was 
simply to give their views touching the important subject, for 
which that committee was appointed. Therefore, we are united 
in offering the following for the consideration and unity of the 
monthly meeting : ^ When it pleased the infinitely wise Je- 
hovah to manifest himself in the fulness, and present to a 
world of intelligent beings, a perfect pattern of everlasting 
righteousness in the person of his beloved son Jesus Christ ; 
that blessed pattern was found walking in the path of humble 
industry, showing with indubitable clearness it was the only 
way to rational happiness in this world, and everlasting happi- 
ness in the world to come.' 

And it is worthy of our most serious consideration and 
attention, that this great personage received no learning in 
the congregated seminaries of that day, although they were as 
common amongst the apostate Israelites as they are now 
amongst apostate Christians. This is confirmed by the testi- 
mony of the neighbors that knew him, ' From whence hath 
this man these things, or how knoweth he letters, having never 
learned V 

Before finishing the work his Heavenly Father gave him to 
do, he chose his immediate disciples from amongst the illiterate 
fishermen of Galilee, humble industrious men, who had no 
scholastic learning to depend upon. But while they had a 
single eye to their perfect pattern, keeping his commandments 
and loving him, he manifested himself to them, agreeable to 
his blessed promises, teaching them all things, and bringing 
all things needful to their remembrance ; thus qualifying them 
to speak to the visited seed in a language they understood, 



29 

gathering them into the true fold where Christ, their heavenly 
Shepherd, fed them and caused them to rest at noon. 

Thus it appears that the redemption of man, the most glo- 
rious work of the Almighty", was brought about without the 
agency of scholastic learning, its most dignified instrument not 
being permitted to have it. 

This view taken in connection with the fact, that in none of 
his communications or sermons, or the exhortations or epistles 
of Ms immediate disciples, was human or scholastic learning 
ever recommended. This, we say, presents to our minds irre- 
sistible and overwhelming evidence against it, especially in its 
modern spirit, as advocated by a proud aspiring but fallen 
world. And, moreover, it appears clear to us that such scho- 
lastic learning was one of the principal agents of anti-Christ, 
by which he drew the successors of those sons of the morning 
from the simplicity of the truth as it was in Jesus, as he did 
the third part of the stars of heaven, and cast them to the earth. 

For, as early as the first and second centuries, congregated 
seminaries, or boarding schools, were set up, and the Alexan- 
drian was so particularly distinguished for its popularity and 
power, as to become the principal source of that pride and 
ambition, which characterize an aspiring priesthood : furnishing 
that very learning that constitutes the lever of their power, 
and enables them more effectually to lord it over the heritage. 
And hence it was that a dark night of apostacy, or mantle of 
substantial blackness, eclipsed the glory of the militant church. 
In vain was raised the feeble voice of a Wickliff, a Huss, a 
Luther, or a Calvin ; for, although they were instruments in 
the reformation, they too much depended upon the arm of 
flesh, scholastic learning, and such qualifications as were re- 
ceived in the Egyptian court, to be anything more than voices 
crying in the wilderness, or enlightened men like Moses, 
beholding afar off that land of rest and Christian liberty pre- 
pared for the people of God. 

When the people called Quakers were gathered, the instru- 
ment that was made use of was a poor unlearned shoemaker 
and shepherd, the son of a weaver. He was found like his 
divine Master, walking in the path of humble industry, and 
like the illiterate fisherman of G-alilee, he was qualified by 
the influence of the Holy Spirit to preach the everlasting 
Grospel; calling the visited children away from the Lo-heres 

3* 



30 

and the Lo-tlieres, to tlie kingdom of God within them, to an 
omnipresent Saviour, a Christ within, the hope of glory, de- 
claring that as ' Christ had come to teach his people himself,' 
they had no need that any man should teach them, save that 
holy anointing that teacheth truth. 

Here was received the primitive Christian testimony against 
scholastic divinity, or man made ministers, and consequently 
against the schools that made them. Hence our early friends 
were led in the liberty and power of truth, to bear a faithful 
testimony against all such schools.* And when forming their 
discipline in relation to school learning, they only recognized 
as necessary the simple rudiments of an English education 
sufficient to fit them for business, leaving the study of what 
some might consider useful science, to the liberty individuals 
might feel in the truth, to pursue it by self-improvement. 
Further than this they considered superfluous, and conse- 
quently had a testimony to bear against it, and while they 
continued faithful to their ^ plain way of living, and their 
plain ' honest' way of preaching,' they so shook the foundation 
of the church of anti-Christ, that the priests were ready to flee 
from their falling shrine, and bloody warriors to sheathe the 
sword for ever. 

Then there were to be found walking in the path of humble 
industry, conscientious schoolmasters, blacksmiths, weavers, 
farmers, masons, tailors, shoemakers, carpenters, and broom- 
makers J such men as Samuel Bownas, John Richardson, John 
Woolman, James Simpson, John Churchman, and Elias Hicks, 
and many others that might be mentioned, who were fre- 
quently engaged or employed in giving Friends' children suffi- 
cient learning to fit them for business; whose example as well 
as precept turned many to righteousness, and who, no doubt, 
will shine forth in the brightness of the firmament as stars for 
ever and ever. ^ But the fathers, where are they ? and the pro- 
phets, do they live for ever?' where are the bright talented 
youth of this day, the interesting children of Friends to be 
found? We fear not all walking in the path of humble in- 
dustry as Christians under the care of pious parents and guar- 
dians, but too often at colleges and popular boarding schools, 
preparing to be lawyers, doctors, office-hunters, and office- 

* By the context it appears that the author had more particularly 
in view theological schools. 



31 

holders ; speculators in bank, Tbridge, steamboat, railroad, and 
canal stocks; money mongers, land jobbers, and teachers of 
the higher branches of fashionable learning, such as the dead 
languages, and even painting, a link in the chain of anti- 
Christian foibles next to music and dancing. 

However consistent these things may be with the present 
state of enterprising, aspiring, restless, warlike America, they 
certainly form no part of the requisite qualifications of his 
followers who declared his kingdom was not of this world. 
And as such cannot fight, they cannot consistently sit in legis- 
lative bodies or the councils of the nation ', or participate in 
their unchristian enterprizes, and, consequently, need no such 
learning to fit them for such business. 

We want such conscientious men, as above named, to teach 
our country schools, and give our dear children sufficient 
learning to fit them for useful business, and such as will be 
content with a low salary. But, alas ! they are scarcely to be 
found, for the reason above mentioned. 

The exercise and travail of Friends in their Yearly Meeting 
capacity, as referred to by the communication now before us, 
we cordially unite with, believing Friends had nothing more 
in view until 1779, than the improvement of the rising youth 
in virtue, and useful learning, sufficient to fit them for business. 
But had the committee furnished us with extracts on the sub- 
ject of education, from the Yearly Meeting as far in advance 
as 1810 or 1820, it would have manifested a very different 
spirit ; a spirit that however ingeniously it intimates Jacob's 
voice, has proved that it had Esau's hairy hands; a travail 
and concern, beautiful indeed in theory, but whose practical 
consequence has been a serious injury to society, producing 
those Im^ge hoarding schools, the too fruitful source of pride 
and idleness, and the nursery of that spirit that made such 
devastation among the flock and family of God in the primitive 
church ; and of latter times has got into the Society of Friends 
like a wolf in sheep's clothing, and its effects are rending, 
devouring, and scattering the sheep on the barren mountains 
of an empty profession. For it appears clear to us, that ever 
since the institution of Ackworth Boarding School, in Eng- 
land, Friends have been rapidly declining from their first 
principles and practices in that nation. Ever since the setting 
up of West Town Boarding School, in Pennsylvania, such 



32 

gcliools as are recognized by our discipline have "been neglected 
and are falling into decay, while the learning and wisdom of 
this world, which cherish pride and religious consequence, have 
divided in Jacob and scattered in Israel, to the everlasting 
disgrace and injury of many, causing the Lord's humble faith- 
ful servants secretly to cry in the mournful language of the 
prophet : 'By whom shall Jacob arise, for he is small.' 

Notwithstanding we are so fully convinced that large board- 
ing schools, or congregated seminaries, have always been in- 
imical to the Kedeemer's kingdom, we are not prepared to 
discourage such conscientious Friends as feel a freedom in the 
truth, to open schools in their own houses, not only for the 
accommodation of such members as may live at too great a 
distance, to attend our proper schools, but such children as 
are not members ; thus making them little nurseries for the 
principles of truth, as professed by Friends. 

But, in conclusion, we -are prepared solemnly and seriously 
to declare that we fully believe that our society will never arise 
and shake itself from the dust of the earth and put on her 
beautiful primitive garments, never can have judges as at the 
first, and counsellors as at the beginning, until ministers, elders, 
overseers, and all religiously concerned Friends who stand in 
the responsible stations of parents, guardians, and heads of 
families become more truly humble themselves, and evince 
their humility by being content with useful learning, sufficient 
to fit their children for such business as will furnish them with 
food and raiment to make them comfortable and decent. For 
while Friends take the liberty to run open-mouthed after the 
world in pursuit of superfluous wealth, their children must be 
like the world's people, having superfluous learning. Hence 
they must be sent to West Town, Princeton, or Haverford, 
where they can get the greatest education for the least money. 
Thus parents, for the sake of ease, popularity and gain, leave 
their children as the ostrich leaveth her eggs in the earth, to 
be hatched by the beams of the sun, and forgetteth that the 
foot of the passenger may crush them, or the wild beast may 
break them. 

What will be the awful predicament of such j^arents and heads 
of families, when this query is put to them by the great Judge 
of quick and dead : ' What hast thou done with those lambs 
I placed under thy care in the wilderness of the world?' 



83 

Finally, dear friends, may we all be concerned to return to 
our first principles and practices, and to bring up the rising 
youth under our care, after the example of Him, who appear- 
ed amongst the children of men, in the character of the hum- 
hU carpenter of Nazareth, that blessed pattern who was found 
walking in the path of humble industry, a path which will 
not only lead to the enjoyment of rational happiness in this 
world, but to glory, honor, immortality and eternal life, in that 
world that is without end. — Amen.'^ 

I will now only add to the above remarks what I verily be- 
lieve, and which has been renewedly confirmed by observation 
and experience in the last ten years of my life, that three 
great and powerful enemies, Pride, Idleness and Dishonesty, 
are laying the axe at the root of the tree of Liberty, and the 
tree of Life, and nothing will save the Church and State, but 
walking in the path of humbly industry, for humility will 
make our wants few, and industry will more than supply 
them. 

Let, then, those who stand as the leaders of the people, no 
longer cause them to err — no longer destroy the way of their 
paths by selfishness, but return, like the master spirits of 
Greece and Rome, to the plough-tail, or path of humble indus- 
try. And let all ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, 
follow the example set before them in the holy mount; then, 
like the carpenter of Nazareth, and fishermen of Galilee, 
they will be found at the work-bench, or the mending of nets. 
Then they can appeal, like the exemplary and heavenly mind- 
ed Paul, to the elders of their respective meetings, saying, 
^^We have coveted no man's silver or gold, or apparel: yea, 
ye yourselves know that these hands have ministered to our 
necessities, and to them that were with us;'^ that we have 
taught you both by precept and example what we have re- 
ceived from the Lord Jesus, that ^4t is more blessed to give 
than to receive. ^^ 

I return again to my dear father, whose disappointment in 
his son's not being sufficiently learned for the law, induced 
him to bind me at the age of thirteen to a coachmaker, for 
seven years. But his attachment to scholastic education was 
embraced in the indenture that I should have one year's 
schooling. 

In the Fourth month, 1793, I left my dear old adopted 



34 

mother in tears, and went to live with William and Rachael 
Tomlinson, at Four-lanes-end, now Attleborough. 

They were young married people, comfortably established in 
the coach making business. William was in partnership with 
his brother, Henry Tomlinson, a man I very much loved. 

My master was an example of humble industry worthy to be 
imitated. He led his hands to work and to meals, and only 
asked them to follow his example. Indeed I do not know 
that I ever saw him idle whilst he had a shop and business. 

But the change was very great for a poor little weak boy, 
who was brought up thus far as a gentleman's son, to sit at 
the table as a boarder as long as he pleased, and had only to 
ask for what he wanted, to get it. Then to sit down quickly 
and eat such as was set before him, asking no questions, with 
a voracious set of men and boys, who seemed to eat for their 
lives, and rise with the master, was hard, and to go to work 
was still harder. And, as too often is the case at such estab- 
lishments, both men and boys gave way to a kind of low slang 
and vulgarity of conversation and conduct, which came directly 
in contact with my respectacle religious education, and 1, of 
course, become the butt of their insignificant wit. But the 
tenderness of my religious impressions too soon wore off, and, 
instead of weeping and praying, I soon got to laughing and 
swearing • and having what may be truly called a natural fund 
of nonsense, I soon became a kind of favorite with my shop- 
mates. 

In less than six months (I think) after I went to the trade,' 
the establishment was destroyed by fire, and we were thrown 
out of the coachmaking business; and the tavern next door 
to where my master lived being vacant by the absconding of 
the landlord, he moved into it and continued there, if I am not 
mistaken, till the spring of 1795, when our shops were all com- 
pleted, and we moved into a house adjoining them. 

While at the tavern I served in the capacity of lackey, shoe- 
black, hostler, and bar-tender; too often exposed to the worst 
of company, to see that kind of conduct, that debases rational 
beings below brutality, and blots out of their very nature all 
that is good and beautiful. And what increased the evil, it 
was the time of what is called the Western expedition, when 
there was a great deal of military parade and excitement. But 
in the midst of all this exposure the heavenly Shepherd, under 



"whose care a dying mother had left me, extended the crook of 
His love, and preserved me from gross evils, awakening at 
times serious impressions, particularly at the death of my mis- 
tress's first born child, a dear little girl that I had attended 
much, and for whom I felt a strong attachment. 

I very well remember the tender sympathy, sorrow, and love 
I felt on the occasion, especially for my mistress, who appeared 
to be very solemnly and seriously impressed. Our feelings 
being similar, it caused a spiritual attachment or love, that has 
continued down to the present day, and I hope will extend 
beyond the confines of time into a never ending eternity. I 
think that my mistress was qualified to be such a woman as is 
described in the last chapter of Proverbs. 

Although I was removed from the tavern when about fifteen, 
and employed steadily in the coachmaking business, I was un- 
fortunately introduced to those places of diversion called cutting 
apple frolics, spinning frolics, raffling matches, and indeed all 
kind of low convivial parties, so peculiarly calculated to nourish 
the seeds of vanity and lies. Thus the garden of my heart was 
too soon overrun with those noxious weeds — licentiousness, in- 
temperance, angry passions, and devilishness, which obstruct the 
growth of those precious plants of the Heavenly Father's right 
hand planting : virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, and 
godliness. Hence it was I entered the wide gate, and was 
travelling in the broad way that leads to destruction. But, 
oh ! precious Saviour, thou didst not forsake thy lost sheep, but 
left, as it were, the ninety and nine, and went after one that was 
astray. And I cannot express the gratitude, thanksgiving, and 
praise I often feel to my beloved Saviour for His mercy and 
goodness to one of the least of his flock, for I was now from 
under the care of my dear adopted mother, and left by my 
father, as the ostrich leaveth her eggs ; and my master never 
queried whither goest thou, but I was left to run all hours of the 
night, the door being open. 

This appears to me to have been the most critical period of my 
life, when growing up from a boy to a man, and forming the 
channel in which life was to run, if not determining its ever- 
lasting issue. 

And what increased the tremendous danger of a poor weak 
youth, was the .free use of spirituous liquors; for it was then 
the ridiculous custom of those who got new carriages to treat 



the hands with liquor, sometimes three or four gallons ; and, 
during my seven years' apprenticeship, I do not know that there 
was a day when there was not more or less liquor about ; but 
although I used it freely with my shopmates, through mercy I 
was preserved from forming the distressing artificial appetite of 
the habitual drunkard; for it appears that intemperance was 
not my besetting sin, and, therefore, I claim but little merit 
for my temperate habits; though I may say, what too few can 
say, that I have used no spirituous liquors as a drink in private, 
in company, or in business for near forty years, and but very 
seldom as a medicine. 

But licentious lewdness was much more a besetting sin, and 
my preservation from ruin in this way appears to me as a miracle, 
for I certainly indulged in licentious thoughts till their corrupt- 
ing tendency led to what was still worse, lewd conversation ; 
and had I broken through the barriers of virtue, I have reason 
to believe, from the strength of my passion and the weakness 
of my resolution, I should have plunged into that vortex of dis- 
sipation that might have sealed my eternal ruin. But, oh ! 
heavenly Shepherd, who sleepest not by day nor slumbereth by 
night, it was thy preserving power that saved me from this pit 
of pollution, to sing thy praises on the banks of deliverance. I 
am, therefore, not ashamed to meet any woman in this world, 
or in the world to come. 

On this subject I would wish to say more, but am at a loss 
to find language sufficiently chaste and sufficiently forcible ade- 
quately to set forth what I feel. Suffice it to say I was intro- 
duced by lechers and debauchees into the worst of company and 
the worst of places, both in city and country. And what added 
to the danger of my being entirely lost to every tender Christian 
feeling, I had become a military enthusiast by reading the his- 
tory of the warrior with his ^' garments rolled in blood.'' 

Although I had scarcely reached my eighteenth year, the 
sound of war being heard in our land, I enrolled myself as a 
soldier, delighted with the martial music, and the feathered 
foppery of the regimentaled dandy. 

Had I at this time obtained a commission in the army, I 
might have followed my companions to an untimely grave. 

But in the midst of all this sanguine cheer, and streamers 
gay, when I had cut my cable and launched into the world, my 
Saviour did not forsake me, for I was not a reprobate, therefore 



87 

he was still in me, and had only retired as it were to the hinder 
part of my little ship, and was apparently asleep. For when 
about the twentieth year of my age a terrible storm of sickness 
overtook me whilst on a frolic in the city of Philadelphia, and 
when my poor frail bark was sinking beneath the waves, I 
awoke my Saviour by my cries, and he arose and rebuked the 
direful disease that was ready to overwhelm my life, and I was 
again restored to health. Yet, notwithstanding all my promises 
to live a better life, such was my strong passion for music, 
dancing, and singing, that I was participating in all those amuse- 
ments before I was able to leave the city, and ride home. Poor 
sanguine young man. Peter like, I was a swearer and a liar, 
but I was not yet ready, like Peter, to weep bitterly for sin. 

My seven years' apprenticeship having expired when I was 
twenty, I hired as a journeyman with my old masters, Henry 
and William Tomlinson, and continued with them about four 
months, when I set up coach and house painting for myself in 
the place of my birth and apprenticeship ; but such was my 
want of stability and almost every other qualification to fit me 
for business, that I am much astonished that I should have 
been employed. Yet I was employed and encouraged by respect- 
able people, for the character of ray family gave me a standing 
that I certainly did not merit, being in my own estimation a 
weak, wayward young man, susceptible of strong and tender 
attachments, especially to young women, of whom I had a num- 
ber of favorites, and was excessively fond of their society. But 
they know and I know that we were innocent, and I continue 
to feel a brotherly affection for those who are still living. 

In the fall of 1800 I went to work for Doctor Fenton at 
painting his house. He was a superior physician, a great me- 
chanical genius, and to me a very agreeable and interesting 
man. 

We soon agreed that when the weather got too cold to paint 
I should come and assist him in making a new fashioned car- 
riage. In the beginning of winter I vi^ent to live with him, and 
found a very agreeable home. His wife was one of those excel- 
lent women spoken of in the Scriptures, " She looketh well to 
the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness." 
They had but one child, who was an interesting little girl ten 
or twelve years old. They were Presbyterians, but not sour 
Calvinists, and I went with them to their meeting. 



38 

One day the Doctor proposed to me, in his famih'ar way, that 
I had better join their church. And as an inducement, ob- 
served that he would then use his influence in luy forming an 
advantageous marriage with a very rich and respectable elder's 
daughter, who was an heiress, independent of her father. Whe- 
ther he was in earnest or not 1 must leave. 

I think I told him that I had no idea that I would ever be 
worthy to join any religious society, but if I should think my- 
self fit, I should join the Quakers. He expressed his astonish- 
ment that a young man of my turn would think of joining so 
simple and lifeless a people, and if it ever took place he should 
think that miracles had not ceased j making some further remarks 
unfavorable to Friends, which produced excitement and brought 
on considerable argument, ending, in all probability as such 
arguments mostly do, in both of us thinking we were right. 

About a year before this contest with the Doctor, I had 
become acquainted, at a debating society in Attleborough, 
with John Comly and James Walton, young Friends from 
Byberry. John was considered a great scholar and a great 
speaker, and appeared to me a very plain, exemplary, and re- 
ligious young man. James appeared equally exemplary, but, 
like myself, had no talent for public speaking. He was calcu- 
lated for one of those excellent men, who are as sinews to the 
state, and pillars in the church, whose judgment and goodness 
of heart are more fruitful than their tongues. 

These young men I have always thought were of great 
advantage to me; and making use of their sentiments and views, 
I think I was rather an over-match for the Doctor in arguments 
about religion. 

I was now approaching my twenty-first year, and had left 
the volunteer company I belonged to, and was in fact under 
the preparing hand for a change. I had often serious and even 
sorrowful thoughts, when alone, and was disgusted with my- 
self and all my conduct, though I could not find that I had 
ever done an act which, if published before an earthly tribunal, 
would leave a stain on my moral character in the sight of men. 
But I continued exceedingly fond of singing, dancing, vain 
amusements, and the company of young people, and too often 
profanely swearing when angry or excited, although my asso- 
ciates were more respectable than formerly. 

In the latter part of winter I went to Philadelphia on horse- 



39 

back, and returned through a snow-storm in company with a 
young friend who has since sat by my side in meeting for 
more than twenty years in the station of an elder. I believe 
the young man was almost ashamed of his company, for I sung 
all the way home, besides stopping at several taverns to drink. 
Being wet, weary, and hungry, I eat a hearty supper and went 
early to bed. About midnight I was awakened with the same 
alarming symptoms I was attacked with a year before in the 
city, when I was only saved from death by a miracle. The 
thoughts of the promises I then made and broke, and inex- 
pressible pain and distress produced a horror which I cannot 
describe. My friend the Doctor gave my body relief, but my 
mind was too solemnly impressed to be cured by any thing 
but a heavenly physician. From this time my appearance was 
somewhat changed from a sanguine to a melancholy cast, and 
my friend the doctor told me that my frequently sighing was 
indicative of the approach of a serious disease, either of body 
or mind, and would sometimes exercise his wit to rally me 
off. 

I think I never went but once after this with the family to 
their meeting, and that was by the persuasion of a Methodist 
minister, a connection, on a visit. We went together in a 
chair, and sat in the Doctor's pew. I remember he joined with 
the singing, but I could sing no more in meeting. The be- 
coming manner in which that man talked to me, is remembered 
with respect for him to the present day. His name was David 
Bartine. 

I was now disposed rather to shun than to court young 
company, and spent my First days in rambling about by my- 
self in solitary places. 

In one of these excursions I found myself within reach of 
Friends' meeting at Middletown, and went to it, and though 
I had often been there, I do not recollect that I had been at 
that meeting since my serious turn. Be that as it may, I 
think I had a precious meeting, for I continued to walk five 
miles to that meeting every First day, while I lived with 
Doctor Fenton in Northampton. 

About this time I was solicited to join a respectable young 
friend in carrying on the coach-making business in Milford, 
six or seven miles from where I then lived, and I went there 
to see the place, and make some arrangement. I mention this 



40 

to show the state of my mind. I think I wept nearly all the 
way there, and yet when introduced into the company of some 
very respectable young friends, who asked me to sing, I sung 
for them the greater part of the night, and then went weeping 
home next day. It was astonishing that in company I could 
not refrain from my wonted cheerfulness and vivacity, when 
by myself I was so serious as to weep jtnd pray. 

Soon after this I went to the city on some business, and 
met one of my old companions, who appeared to be pleased to 
see me, and told me that a mutual friend, who played well on 
the violin, had got a new one, which he played admirably. I 
went with him with some reluctance, but the delightful music 
soon raised my natural vivacity ; and I attempted, in company 
with two partners, to go through with a country dance. Whe- 
ther I went through or not I almost forget, but I know that 
this was the last time I ever danced. Leaving this place and 
passing down the street with a heavy heart, I was overtaken 
by one of my juvenile companions, and an old fellow soldier, 
a young man of superior talents but of profligate character. 
He was pleased to see me, and began to talk in his usual way, 
but soon felt or saw that something ailed me, for I was dif- 
ferent from what I used to be, and he left me. After my 
return home I quit singing, and was brought into a strait 
about using the plural language, and found a difficulty in 
adopting the plain thee and thou. As to dress I had no trouble, 
for I always admired a plain dress for either man or woman. 

I have often thought I should have got along better had I 
continued to live with the Presbyterians, for then I should 
have kept more to myself, and been with Friends at their 
meetings, and only occasionally at their houses. But living 
altogether amongst respectable, political, worldly-minded Qua- 
kers, and, above all, being treated by them with kindness and 
attention, was certainly too much for such a poor, weak, trifling 
young man as I was, and I think proved a serious disad- 
vantage to my spiritual state. 

^ On the 27th of the 8th month, 1801, I went to Milford to 
live, and to assist Joshua C. Canby, in the coach-making busi- 
ness, making my home with Samuel Hulme, one of those 
excellent men, who are a blessing to the neighborhood where 
their lot is cast, and an honor to the society to which they 
belong; a man whose cheerfulness and patience under the 



41 

heaviest afflictions, I never saw exceeded. I owe much to that 
dear friend for his many acts of brotherly kindness towards 
me, when a poor, weak, unworthy young man. This debt I 
have tried to discharge by endeavoring to do to others that 
which he did unto me. 

John Hulme, the father of the foregoing and patriarch of 
the place, was a remarkable man. He had never gone six 
months to school, and had to support his parents, being very 
poor; yet he arose through the path of humble industry, to be 
one of the most useful and respectable men, in a civil point of 
view, in the county of Bucks ; and one of the brightest stars 
that ever shone in the State legislature, since the days of 
William Penn. Soon after I went to live in the family, he 
appeared to be in a decline. I remember going into his room 
to see him, when he spoke to me in the most feeling and elo- 
quent manner. He adverted to the days of his youth, when 
he was preciously visited by the light of eternal truth, saying 
in a language like this, " Oh ! had I been obedient to the 
Heavenly vision, I would have been in a different situation to 
what I now am. Let, therefore, no possible consideration di- 
vert thee from following the Saviour in humble obedience." 
Yet this excellent man, after recovering his health and being 
elected to the Legislature, was, I fear, a victim to popularity, 
and nearly lost among the rocks and shoals of skepticism and 
intemperance. He had four other sons besides the one before 
mentioned, and it is worthy of particular notice that George, 
who, like his father, had the least scholastic education, and 
walked the most in the path of humble industry, turned out 
the most valuable man, whilst the youngest son, who had the 
greatest talents, the greatest scholastic education, and was least 
in the path of humble industry, turned out the poorest. He 
was my favorite — the confidential companion of my honorable, 
youthful proceedings in marriage, and one that I loved as 
dearly as a brother. Like his father, he was preciously visit- 
ed with the day-spring from on high. How often have I seen 
the tear of tenderness and contrition trickle down his cheek. 
He certainly was designed to be greatly good, yet with all 
these advantages, like his father, he became a victim to popu- 
larity, and at last ruined by wicked and designing men. He 
was arraigned before one of the highest tribunals of the State, 
charged with a crime, which, if true, though many of his 

4* 



42 

friends, as well as myself, never believed him directly gnilty, 
would have endangered his life, and made him a disgrace to 
his friends, and the society to which he belonged. Although 
acquitted by the court, he became as an underling in respect- 
able society, that the swineish nature pursues with devouring 
ruin. 

Ah ! dear friend of my youth, I loved thee, for thou once 
possessed every thing that was lovely, and I am comforted in 
the impression that thou wast like the youngest son of his 
father, so beautifully spoken of in the inimitable parable of 
the Saviour. If thou didst spend the visitations of thy 
youth in folly, thou couldst not satisfy the cravings of thy 
immortal spirit, with the spiritless husks and shells of empty 
profession, and as no man gave unto thee, thou didst look to- 
wards thy Heavenly Father's house. In the depths of hu- 
mility he saw thee, when a great way off, and the darling at- 
tribute of mercy ran to meet thee, and fell upon thy neck and 
kissed thee, and clothed thy soul with the best robe of his 
righteousness, receiving thee into the Heaven of Heavens, to 
participate in the fruition of that joy which is over the sin- 
ner that repenteth, the joy that is unspeakable and full of glory. 
Farewell, dear friend, on earth, but I hope to meet thy glori- 
fied spirit in '^ the general assembly and church of the first 
born, whose names are written in Heaven.^' 

Dear young man, whoever thou art, that may read this, I 
want thee to make use of the precious visitations of thy 
youth, like Jacob did, to make a covenant with that God that 
will keep thee and feed thee, and be a guardian angel to pre- 
serve thee, to a peaceable and happy conclusion in his ever- 
lasting kingdom. 

Every young man and young woman is visited with the day- 
spring, or the day-star from on high ; and this visitation is 
more or less like the vision given to the youthful patriarch. 
They are first humbled under a consideration of their sinful 
state, and that all sublunary things are at best but the por- 
tions of uncertainty, that must shortly know their time and 
place no more. They then feel longings after Heaven and 
holiness, when they see in the visions of everlasting light, the 
way from earth to heaven, in something like Jacob's ladder, 
whose seven steps are beautifully described by the apostle 
Peter, as '^ Virtue, Knowledge, I'emperance, Patience, Grodli- 



ness, Brotherly-kindness and Charity/^ On these steps they 
behold the messengers or angels, ascending and descending in 
the character of ministers and teachers of the everlasting 
Gospel of Jesus Christ. And under the same blessed visi- 
tation of light, they might see as certainly that there is ano- 
ther ladder, which reaches from earth to Hell, having seven 
steps exactly opposite, "Licentiousness, Ignorance, Intem- 
perance, Impatient-anger, Devilishness, Covetousness, and 
Proud-ambition/' On the steps of these two ladders stand 
the whole world of intelligent probationary beings. 

It being settled as an eternal truth, that "in every nation, 
they that fear God and work righteousness are accepted with 
him/' it is a perfectly rational conclusion that all who are vir- 
tuous, all who are faithful to the light they have, all whose 
temperance and moderation are dignified and rational, all 
who are patient and influenced by justice and mercy, all 
whose brotherly kindness leads them to do to others as they 
would that others should do unto them, all who have that 
heavenly charity, which thinketh no evil, that crown and dia- 
dem of the redeemed soul, let their name and profession of 
religion be what it may, are standing on that ladder 
which resteth on that living faith, that works by love and 
reaches from earth to the Heaven of Heavens. All that are 
licentious, all that are wickedly ignorant, all that are intem- 
perate, all that are vindictive and impatient, all that are devil- 
ish, all that are covetous, all that are ambitious and proud, 
let their name or profession to religion be what it may, all 
stand upon some of the steps of that ladder that hangs upon 
earthly opinion, and reaches down — down, to a bottomless 
pit, into everlasting darkness, where there is weeping and 
gnashing of teeth. 

If then my figure is correct, dear young people, the subject 
matter I have to submit to your serious consideration is of 
the most interesting and awful character. It is certainly a 
most pleasing and interesting reflection, that we have the in- 
estimable privilege of rising out of the vanity of time, into 
the glorious riches of eternity. At the same time ETERNI- 
TY, if pleasing, is an awful, dreadful thought. Seek then, 
dear children, through the tendering visitations of eternal 
truth, an establishment in that faith that works by love — a 
heartfelt belief in that God that was manifest in the flesh, 



44 

justified in the spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gen- 
tiles, believed on in the world, and received up into glory. 
That God that so loved the world that he gave his only be- 
gotten Son, that whosoever should believe on him should not 
perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son 
into the world to condemn the world, but that the world 
through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is 
not condemned, but he that believeth not is condemned, and 
this is the condemnation that light has come into the world, 
and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds 
were evil, for every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither 
cometh to the light lest his deeds should be reproved.'^ This 
is the doctrine preached by the dear Son and sent of God to 
Nicodemus. A standing doctrine that will continue to be true 
till the end of time. And in preaching to his disciples, he cau- 
tioned them most emphatically to ^^ Take heed that no man 
deceive you by the Lo-heres and the Lo-theres, for there shall 
arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great 
signs, and wonders, insomuch that if it were possible, they 
shall deceive the very elect. Behold I have told yon before ; 
wherefore if they shall say unto you, behold he is in the 
desert, go not forth ; behold, he is in the secret chambers, be- 
lieve it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east and 
shineth even unto the west, so shall also the coming of the 
Son of man be.^' Thus it appears that our blessed Saviour 
declared that his second appearance, without sin unto salva- 
tion, would be like lightning. And this is in perfect accord- 
ance with another sublime and heavenly declaration, "I am 
the light of the world j he that followeth me shall not walk in 
darkness, but have the light of life.^^ This view is conclu- 
sively supported by the apostle John, in the very first words 
of his excellent testimony, ^^In the beginning was the word, 
and the word was with God, and the word was God. The 
same was in the beginning with God. All things were made 
by him, and without him was not any thing made that was 
made. In Mm was life, and the li/e was the light of 7nen." 
Be assured, then, dear young people, that the light which en- 
lighteneth your souls is inseparable from the life of God in 
your souls. As the light gives sight, so the life gives sense, 
and makes sin exceeding sinful, and shows the need of a Sa- 
viour to save the soul from sin. This Saviour is seen in the 



45 

eternal Word that was in the beginning with God and is God. 
Oh, you that believe in this doctrine, keep, sacredly keep, 
your virtue, the first step of the ladder, it will lead to 
Heaven. 

" The immortal never failing friend to man, 

His way to happiness on high. 

Guard then your thoughts ; your thoughts are heard in Heaven; 

There is a watchful spy ; a formidable foe. 

That listening, overhears the v^hisperings of your camp, 

And all your purposes of life explores." 

Do not be discouraged, dear children, if evil and licentious 
thoughts do come into your minds. The fear of the Lord is 
a fountain of life, that will preserve you from the snares of 
death, and will be a curb upon these thoughts when the mind is 
driven by impetuous passions. Having become soldiers of the 
cross, you must now fight the good faith, and continue to fol- 
low the captain of your salvation, who has trod the steps of 
that ladder before you, which will certainly lead you into 
heaven. Being established upon the sure foundation of virtue, 
you will witness an enlargement of soul that will raise you to 
knowledge, even the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus 
Christ. Being obedient to what you thus know, your light 
will so shine before men that it cannot be hid under a bushel, 
or under a bed. This will draw the attention of the people 
towards you, as virtuous, intelligent young men and women. 
Here is a snare and temptation, and you will need the instruc- 
tion embraced in a saying of the Saviour, '^ Wo unto you when 
all men speak well of you.^^ Dear James Naylor, who as- 
cended and descended on this ladder, declared near his close 
that the "world's joy'^ murdered the divine life. I know 
what I say by experience, having suffered loss by being pleased 
with the attention and respect paid by poor weak mortals like 
myself. Oh ! the need of humility and abasement of soul, 
which Christ only can give, and will give to all that ask him. 

Thus, dear children, you will mount upwards upon the steps 
of temperance and patience, and your light will continue to 
shine forth as the brightness of the firmament, for you now 
have but one step to the highest state of perfection under the 
law-covenant, — a state realized by Enoch, Noah, Abraham, 
Isaac and Jacob, Moses, Joshua, Gideon, David, and Daniel. 

In every nation they that fear God and work righteousness 



46 

are accepted with him, and all such must love the Lord their 
Grod with all their heart, with all their soul, and with all 
their mind, and their neighbor as themselves. This embraces 
the perfection of that love our Lord alluded to when he said, 
^^Grreater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his 
life for his friend/' This is the highest state of perfection 
that man, as man, can arrive at. The apostle Peter was in 
the state of a warrior, when he drew his sword to defend the 
body of his master. But it is a step below the Christian state, 
and may be compared to the high mountain, where the Devil 
tempted our Lord with the riches and glory of this world, and 
where, alas ! alas ! he has too successfully tempted too many 
of his professed followers, and drawn them as the stars of 
heaven to the earth, and their descent has been a great dis- 
couragement to dear young people, who have just begun to 
ascend. 

Having given the views that I think have been given me of 
the perfection of the first covenant, including the dispensation 
of John the Baptist and the outward appearance of Jesus 
Christ, I now come to the Christian dispensation which is a 
higher step of the ladder that leads into the kingdom of heaven. 
A kingdom that is not of this world — a kingdom whose sub- 
jects never did nor never can fight with carnal weapons ; a 
kingdom that is set up in every immortal soul where Christ 
the Saviour is permitted to enter as a quickening spirit, and 
rule and reign triumphant ; a kingdom where Chrisfs new 
commandment is received, and true brotherly kindness leads 
all to love one another as Christ loved them; a kingdom 
whose subjects never did and never can sue at the law, and if 
they are sued at the law, and their coat taken, they cannot 
contend for the cloak ; but will give to him that asketh, and 
from him that would borrow, they will not turn away, but 
rejoice to do good and lend, hoping for nothing again. For 
there cannot be such a thing as a usurer in this kingdom, and 
hence we understand our blessed Saviour, when he says, " It 
is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than 
for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven. '' This 
is the kingdom our blessed Saviour established when he said, 
" My kingdom is not of this world, but now is my kingdom 
not from hence.'' All that arrive at this state will become 
established in brotherly kindness and charity, the highest steps 



47 

of the ladder, and as pillars in the Lord's house, they go no 
more out, but, as kings and priests unto Grod, they sit upon 
thrones, as judges in spiritual Israel. This is the perfect 
Christian state, that dear George Fox believed was attainable 
in Christ, which was greater than any perfection in Adam, 
and from which there was no fall. This is the perfect state 
our Lord alluded to when he said, '^ Be ye perfect as your 
Father which is in heaven is perfect.^' 

Now, dear children, fully believing this state attainable, I 
am concerned daily to press after it, as the mark for the prize 
of the high calling in Christ Jesus, and if I can arrive at this 
state I am sure of happiness in this world, and everlasting 
happiness in that world which is without end. And as the 
immortal, never-dying soul is created in the image and likeness 
of God, whose centre is everywhere and whose circumference 
is nowhere ; who is infinite in power, infinite in wisdom, infi- 
nite in goodness, and infinite in mercy ^ the soul immortal 
being clothed with an increasing portion of these infinite attri- 
butes, with an infinity of space for their exercise, must shine 
with new accessions of glory and brighten to all eternity. 

But now come with me, dear youth, and behold the dread- 
ful contrast on that ladder which reaches from earth to hell. 

It is no chimera, it is no flight or picture of the imagi- 
nation, it is an awful reality that the soul, created in the 
image of God, is a free agent and makes its own election. If 
it choses the way to heaven, to heaven it will surely go. If 
it choses the way to hell, to hell it will surely go. Beware, 
then, of the indulgence of licentious thoughts, or a licentious 
devil will surely possess the soul, and lead young men and 
young women to commit the deadly sin. They will then love 
darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil. Then 
the devil of darkness will debase them below brutality, and 
blot out of their very nature everything that is innocent and 
beautiful. Here the devil of intemperance comes in, and 
hurries them down the ladder to the devil of impatience, whose 
vindictive anger marshaling the malevolent passions — jea- 
lousy, envy, hatred, and revenge — produces quarrelling, fight- 
ing, and murder. The poor soul, now arrived at a perfect 
devilish state, lifts up its eyes in Hell, being in torment. 
When the Saviour descended into and suffered for this state, 
He cried out, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken 



48 

me?'' When the apostle Paul, who declared he was crucified 
with Christ, was baptized into the same state, he said, ^^ ! 
wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body 
of this death." All that are dead in sin, are in this state, and 
unless they look to the light that still shines even in this dark 
horrible pit, from the countenance of a merciful Saviour, and 
obey his voice, they will continue to descend into the bottom- 
less pit, and increase in wretchedness and misery to all eternity. 
But every poor sinner that will hear the voice of the Son of 
God shall live, for he has emphatically declared, ^^I am the 
resurrection and the life; he that believeth in me, though he 
were dead, yet shall he live •/' and the beloved Paul, in accord- 
ance with this, thanked Grod that the sinner was delivered 
from the body of sin and death, through Jesus Christ our 
Lord. 

I could enlarge and say much on this awfully interesting 
subject, but I have already exceeded the bounds of brevity, 
and shall only notice the subtile operations of the two last of 
the seven devils, or evil spirits, that torment the soul of man 
in time and in eternity. 

The five first already noticed — licentiousness, ignorance, in- 
temperance, impatient anger, and devilishness — are called in 
the Scriptures unclean devils, from the fact of their producing 
the most unclean and abominable conduct. The two last, 
which are covetousness and pride, I shall call clean devils, 
because they go so well dressed and keep such respectable 
company, and are so highly esteemed amongst men, although 
a greater abomination in the sight of God than their prede- 
cessors, which is abundantly proved by the testimony of the 
Saviour against the rich and proud scribes and pharisees, 
when He said, " The publicans and harlots go into the king- 
dom of heaven before you.'' Now, dear American youth, 
especially you that have had the inestimable blessing of pious 
parents or guardians, who have introduced you early to that 
ladder which reaches from earth to heaven, and through a re- 
newed visitation of the day-spring from on high, have ascended 
some steps on your heavenly way, your characters have become 
pretty well established as virtuous, intelligent, exemplary young 
men and women, almost out of the reach of the unclean spirits, 
for licentious thought is restrained by the fear of the Lord, 
which as a fountain of light preserves from the snare of death; 



49 

but as you are now following the captain of your salvation, 
you must be tempted in a degree as He was. If you have 
become zealously united with any religious society, the devil 
will try to persuade you to command the stones to be made 
bread. 

If I understand the spiritual meaning of this interesting 
figure, and I think I do, — when such young people that have 
been preciously visited, and the bread that comes down from 
heaven, which will nourish their souls up into eternal life, has 
been given them j they love it dearly while their hearts are 
soft and tender, but when it is withheld from them in the fast, 
which is as much a word of God as the eating of the bread, 
they become hungry, and for the want of keeping the word of 
heavenly patience, the evil spirit of impatience gets the ascen- 
dency, and they become restless and unsteady. If they are 
Quakers, they talk too much, and like to argue and dispute, 
running after popular preachers and lecturers, neglecting their 
business, and breaking their word, and get full of zeal for 
matter of opinion, while their hearts are as hard as stones, and 
their spirits as cruel as Turks. These command the stones to 
be made bread, and live upon it, and when a poor hungry 
child of God asks them for heavenly bread, they can only give 
them a stone. 

Where any, whether Methodists, Presbyterians, or others, 
give way to this temptation of the devil, they not only mani- 
fest all the foregoing anti-christian traits, but they sing and 
make long prayers, preparatory to receiving the greater dam- 
nation. These, though they are evidently going down the lad- 
der towards hell, the Devil raises them on to a high mountain, 
in their own imagination, where the glory and riches of this 
world are presented to them, and the Devil's powerful agent, 
cursed self, prevails, or persuades them to fall down and wor- 
ship him; then if they can succeed in making money, and 
putting it out to usury, or in adding house to house, and field 
to field, if they are high professors, especially ministers, they 
will be followed by flatterers and fools enough to assist the 
Devil in placing them on the pinnacle of the temple, where 
their spiritual pride persuades them they are favorites of hea- 
ven, and their abominable presumption leads them to take a 
leap in the dark, with the vain expectation that the very an- 

5 



50 

gels of heaven will bear them up ; but, oh ! fatal mistake — 
they fall and disgrace the cause of truth. 

In the fall of 1801, I agreed with my employer, Joshua 0. 
Canby, to work at the coach-making business, particularly the 
painting, for thirteen dollars per month, and he to find me my 
board and lodging, and give me every Fifth-day, from 9 until 
2 o'clock, so that I might go to meeting, which was about two 
and a-half miles. I went to Middletown meeting. I had to walk^, 
and, I think, for forty years, I have no recollection of missing a 
mid-week meeting, when I was well enough to go, and had I 
been as faithful in every thing that was required of me, I have 
thought I should have come out in the ministry, about the 
22d year of my age. But I was unfaithful in little things, 
and therefore was never made ruler over much, and the impe- 
tuous waves of youthful passion, too often carried the weak, 
wayward young man out of the straight and narrow way, and 
greatly increased the difficulty of his probationary journey. 

It seems unnecessary to say much, if any thing, about my 
business as a mechanic, for I think it has always been marked 
with weakness. 

Early in the spring of 1808, I applied to the overseers of 
Middletown Monthly Meeting, to be received into membership 
with Friends. I was received with open arms, and the dear 
old Friends that were appointed to visit me, have left a savor 
of sweetness upon my mind. I love to think of them and 
hope to meet them in heaven. 

On the 17th of 11th month, of the same year, I was mar- 
ried to Sarah, the second daughter of Joseph and Susannah 
Worstall, of this town, near neighbors to my father, and their 
daughter was the first object of my youthful affection, even 
whilst I was a child. I loved her with that love which an all- 
wise Creator has placed in every perfect nature and rational 
man, for a wise and good purpose, and she has conferred on 
me as much natural and rational happiness as any man ought 
to have in this world, and after a union of forty years, I am 
thankful in being able to say that I feel an increasing love for 
her, and a daily prayer that our immortal spirits may be pre- 
pared for the enjoyment of GrOD in glory. 

In the spring of 1804, we settled in Milford, living in a 
small house, for we were poor, and I had not wherewith to 
build or purchase, and better might it have been for us if I 
had not been persuaded to borrow money and build a house, 



51 

wlieii I was not able to pay for it. This was the commence- 
ment of ses-ious pecuniary embarrassments, and baying learned 
from the things I have suffered, I am prepared to give or leave 
this advice to who ever may read it, when I am gone into the 
eternal world : Never go in debt — never borrow money. 
Be humble — be industrious, tour wants will then be 

FEW, and your industry WILL MORE THAN SUPPLY THEM. 

It would be as unnecessary as it would be uninteresting, to 
go into a detail of the discouragements and difficulties I had to 
pass through; suffice it to say, my debts and dealings brought 
me in contact with selfish men, and my want of capacity made 
me a kind of prey for them. This had a tendency to chafe 
and sour me, and I soon got into a state like the man in the 
fable, who got his neighbors faults and his own into a wallet, 
but in putting it on his shoulder he got his own faults behind 
and his neighbors before his eyes, where he could always see 
them. Thus I got to be a great talker, and a great fault finder, 
and, if I remember right, joined a debating society, read news 
papers, particularly the speeches of members of Congress, 
went to elections, talked politics ; but keeping to meeting. 
Friends put me forward into an office I was unfit for ; a mis- 
take that Leah-eyed friends are too apt to make, to the great 
injury of the individual and the cause of truth. I was more- 
over a very zealous temperance man, and of course denounced 
every one, particularly Friends, who sold or used distilled 
spirituous liquors ; for, a short time before I had built a house 
without finding one drop, and I believe it was the first that 
was built without spirituous liquor, in the lower section of 
Bucks county. 

I think it was about this time that my orthodox faith was 
so strong that I trampled under foot both the gentleman and the 
Christian, in treating with rudeness and unkindness a distant 
relation of my wife, who was said to be a Deist, that had only 
come to pay us a friendly visit. I felt so exceedingly mad 
against him, that I thought if I had power, that I could whip 
him till the blood run down to his heels. In this state of 
mind I soon got tired of Friends, and thought of quitting 
them and joining the Methodists. I attended their meetings, 
and invited their ministers to my house, where their long 
prayers greatly annoyed my wife, who could have no unity 
with them. 

Thus I went staggering along, still keeping my neighboi*s 



52 

faults in the fore-end of the wallet, and my own behind my 
back, till I met with a female Friend in the ministry, at the 
house of a particular friend of mine, where I was talking in 
my usual style, until I noticed a peculiar solemnity and silence 
in the countenance of the woman that alarmed me,and seizing the 
wallet, she soon turned it end for end. At the sight of my own 
faults I fled from her with precipitancy. Her husband followed me 
for some distance, affectionately requesting me to stop. But I 
went home resolving to talk less and pray more. And now 
having a better view of my own faults, I lost sight of my 
neighbors, for my own sins had become exceeding sinful, es- 
pecially in solemn silent meetings, where I was often led to 
weep, and secretly and fervently pray that I might be restored 
to my heavenly Father's house, from which I had evidently 
wandered, and was squandering the heavenly living that was 
imparted to me, in selfish speculation and vain conversation. 
Meetings become more and more interesting, and I was glad 
when I could go to them. At a monthly meeting, when a case 
of difficulty was introduced, I ventured to speak a few words, 
which were so well received, that a goodly Friend, to encour- 
age me, spoke too much in favor of what I had said, which 
hurt me, for it strengthened one of my greatest enemies — 
vanity. Oh ! the mischief that has been done to poor, weak, 
visited children, by ^^ silly women' ^ — male and female — who are 
beautifully pre-figured by the singers after Saul and David; 
they ran me on a rock on which 1 was nearly lost forever. 

And if I, so evidently deficient in learning, in talent, in 
eloquence and personal appearance, should be scarcely saved, 
as a miracle, a brand snatched out of the burning, what will 
become of some young ministers that have recently appeared 
among us, in possession of all these and almost every other 
qualification that can please a vain fantastical world. Alas ! 
what have I seen in the last forty years ? Young men and 
young women, like the foregoing, who have come out in so- 
ciety, and with sanguine cheer, and streamers gay, have cut 
their cable, launched into the world, and seemed to " fondly 
dream each wind and star their friend.^' Eut where are they? 
Alas! some have sunk downright. ^^ O'er them, and o'er 
their names the billows closed." The morrow knew not they 
were ever born. Some few a short memorial left behind, like 
the flag floating when the bark's enguljDhed, it floats a moment 
and is seen no more. 



53 

I felt it my duty to extend some fatherly care towards two 
of the young men above alluded to. To one of them I wrote 
a few lines, and to the other I spoke personally at his own house^ 
but they did not regard my counsel. When I mentioned a 
concern to the one I spoke with, that he should try to get upon 
the ground of the primitive saints, and referred to PauFs epistles, 
he soon let me know that he was much more edified with E. 
H.^s letters than Paul's, although not prepared to say they 
were better. And as this young man was a great admirer of 
the celebrated Doctor Channing, I did not recommend him to 
read Christ's sermon on the mount, for if he had been equal- 
ly candid, he might have told me that he would rather read 
the Doctor's sermons, which would have hurt me very much. 
I feel at times as if I ought to say something more to him, 
but really I do not know how to get at him, for it seems that 
either my own unskilful conduct, or the zeal of some other 
Peter, has cut off his right ear and he will not hear me. This 
same young man appeared to wish to argue on some inexpli- 
cable doctrinal point or subject when on a visit at my house. 
But I was not prepared to comply with his wish, and gave my 
reasons. I told him that I was an uncommonly dogmatical 
disputant, and being in my own house, I was tenacious of the 
character of a gentleman, and therefore would rather not. 
And besides, I had never seen much good come from such dis- 
putes, and we had better agree to disagree. I believe he 
thought I was afraid of him, or my opinions, or both. His 
dear wife seemed to be a good deal hurt, and thought that I did not 
appreciate the value of her husband. She is a lovely woman, 
and appears to possess, in the extreme, one of the most beau- 
tiful traits of a perfect woman, — she loves her husband to ad- 
miration. And should she be a silly woman at home, and add 
her song to the song of the silly women abroad, I fear the wo 
spoken by the Saviour will rest upon her husband. 

But to return to my narrative; in the spring of 1810, I 
attended- our Yearly Meeting under considerable exercise. I 
was certainly in a tender state, and more disposed to silent 
prayer than vain conversation ] for I had been in this state for 
some months, and frequently in meeting had solemn and awful 
apprehensions that it was my duty publicly to advocate the 
cause of Christ. But the fear of being deceived, and a sense 
of my own unworthiness, kept me back, and when meeting 

5* 



54 

b^oke up I would sometimes feel so weak and faint, that I 
could scarcely rise from my seat. But this Yearly Meeting, 
upon the whole, was a strengthening time to me, though I 
met with one thing that hurt me, and I mention it as a caution 
to Friends in the ministry. A minister invited me to dine 
with him, and I went. In the course of his conversation he 
spoke of a friend, that, he said, disturbed the meeting with his 
public appearances ; and on one occasion some young man, who 
sat behind, struck him in such a manner as to cause him to 
drop upon his seat, when, says this ministering friend, in a 
light manner, he immediately fell upon his knees, and bawled 
out like a calf. The unfeeling manner in which he spoke of 
it, taken in connection with the fact that he himself had been 
in the street called strait, and so deranged that his friends had 
to chain him, seemed too much like taking a poor brother by 
the throat. It wounded my feelings very much, and I still 
hope I may ever be preserved from being influenced by such a 
spirit, and speaking in such an unfeeling manner. 

The Yearly Meeting closed I believe on the evening of the 
20th, and on the 21st I returned home. On the 22d being 
First day I went to meeting — a meeting ever memorable to 
me, because it was in that meeting I first gave up publicly to 
advocate the cause of Christ. I had suifered for disobedience 
to the heavenly vision, and an awful fear clothed my mind 
that this would be the last call I would ever have. I trembled, 
I wept, and kneeling I offered a few words in prayer or suppli- 
cation. The meeting was evidently dipped into sympathy and 
feeling with me, for Friends rose simultaneously. It was but 
a few words that I could utter, and on taking my seat, I wept 
almost aloud. As soon as meeting broke I walked immediately 
out of the house, and went home, without speaking to any 
one; but. Oh! the precious tenderness, love, and joy that 
filled my soul. And for two or three weeks I loved every one 
I saw, whilst my heart seemed full of prayer for their present 
and everlasting welfare. With what singleness of heart, with 
what fear and trembling, I went to the next meeting in the 
middle of the week, and feeling as I thought the commandment 
to speak a few words, I did so, and felt my strength renewed ; 
and on the next First day, feeling a similar concern, I spoke 
again, but was brought under a great fear lest I should burthen 
my friends, and was favored to be silent some weeks, and being 



55 

thrown into contact with the world and its concerns, I was 
tossed as it were upon the tempestuous billows, and not com- 
forted except in the house of prayer. 

Having for six or seven years felt it my duty faithfully to 
bear a testimony against the use of spirituous liquors, Friends 
were renewedly stirred up to engage in the concern, and in the 
quarterly meeting at Buckingham, the same year, 1810, a 
large committee was appointed to assist the monthly meetings, 
who were recommended to make similar appointments. In 
this committee I labored with Friends and others, to convince 
them that it was their duty to lay aside the use of this per- 
nicious article as a drink, and as an article of trade. 

About this time that eccentric, but most dignified minister 
of Jesus Christ, James Simpson, came into the neighborhood, 
and sent for me to come and see him at a friend's house. I 
spent the evening with him. He took me as it were in his 
arms as a father, and as long as he lived, which was a little 
more than a year, he continued to manifest the most fatherly 
and afiectionate kindness. Notwithstanding he stood so high 
with Friends and others, and was undoubtedly one of the 
greatest ministers of his day, no memorial was ever prepared 
for him. Whether this omission was owing to his eccentricity, 
his distinguished honesty, or his great severity on spiritual 
wickedness in high places, I know not; but I am inclined to 
think it was owing to the latter, for some of the leaders of 
the people in Philadelphia, who had caused them to err, and 
were destroying the way of their paths, were sore, made so by 
his chastising rod. 

Dear William Blakey, another precious father in the church, 
and who as a spiritual parent, nursed me in his arms in my spi- 
ritual infancy, was never memorialized by Middletown monthly 
meeting, for the same reason, for he was much like James 
Simpson, only inferior as a minister. But these truly valuable 
Friends needed no memorials issued in the dead letter from a 
jnonthly meeting, for I trust their names are gloriously en- 
rolled in the records of eternity, and they have left a savor 
grateful to surviving generations, and as dear James Simpson, 
especially, was concerned to obey that commandment of the 
Saviour, "■ Make unto yourselves friends of the mammon of 
unrighteousness, that when ye fail, they may receive you into 
everlasting habitations,'^ he was received into the never- 



56 

dying souls of many, there to remain till they meet in ^Hhe 
general assembly and church of the first-born, whose names 
are written in heaven/^ 

My inward exercises and outward difiiculties, occasioned 
partly by unfaithfulness, and partly by a constitutional weak- 
ness and want of capacity for business, frequently brought me 
into ^' the street called Strait/^ And the respectable old patri- 
arch of the place, had probably discovered that I lacked the 
enterprise for such a citizen as he wished; and, moreover, 
being a little sore from the severe stroke I gave him and his 
sons for selling spirituous liquors indiscriminately, when I told 
them with a zeal somewhat like the lecturers of the present 
day, that a curse would attend their wicked traffic, and what- 
ever they might gain over the devil's back, they would lose 
under his belly. And now having come out as a public advo- 
cate for the cause of Christ, that I would be less likely to 
tolerate his skeptical notions, I think he was quite willing I 
should leave the place ; I therefore, towards the close of the 
year, sold our house and lot in Milford, intending to move to 
Newtown, where my father, my wife's father, mother, and 
other relatives then lived. In the spring of 1811 the time of 
moving drew near, and I had not been able to get a place to 
move to. Towards the latter part of the Third month, I went 
to Newtown, having heard that Abraham Chapman, a reputable 
and wealthy lawyer, talked of selling his house and lot on 
which he then lived. When I called upon him he gave me 
little or no encouragement. It was now but a few days till 
we must move, and I had left my wife in a great deal of trouble, 
and of course was deeply distressed at the thought of going 
home without any intelligence that would relieve her. But, 
after a sleepless night, I had to return with the sorrowful 
report that we had no home. I need not say that my poor 
wife, as well as myself, were most sadly distressed and dis- 
couraged. It was meeting morning, and nearly time to start, 
but I concluded not to go, for I thought I now must sink. I 
went to the shop to work, but when I saw Friends going to 
meeting it seemed to me, as though a secret voice had addressed 
the ear of my soul : Wilt thou now refuse to do what thou hast 
seen so clearly to be thy religious duty, because there ap- 
pears some difficulty in the way ? Is not he that has all 
power in heaven and in earth, able to open a way where there 



57 

appears no way ? Gro to meeting. I went immediately. It 
was rather late wlien I got there, and the meeting was pretty 
well settled. I had scarcely taken my seat and turned inward 
where prayer was wont to he made, when there was a tender- 
ness and sweetness filled my soul as though all sorrow was 
taken away. I felt as I apprehended the commandment to 
kneel and ofi"er something like a prayer or thanksgiving. It 
was a precious baptizing meeting, and during the solemn si- 
lence I heard the p(3culiar cough of my brother-in-law, at which 
I was a little surprised, as he told me that he could not come 
to meeting that day on account of particular business. After 
meeting was over he came to me with a smile, and informed 
me that he had good news. Abraham Chapman had come to 
their house that morning, and told them that he had thought 
much of me and my wife, through the night, and thought it 
right to sell us his house and lot, and board with us, and we 
might move in a week or two, and that he wished my brother 
to go to Middletown meeting, and tell me. This wonderful 
change and sudden transition from sorrow to joy, led to the 
conclusion that it was the Lord's doings and marvellous in 
my eyes. I went home from meeting with feelings very dif- 
ferent from my feelings in the morning, and communicated 
this most agreeable intelligence to my dear wife, which raised 
her drooping spirits, and she seemed like another woman. 

On the 16th of the Fourth month, 1811, we moved to New- 
town, where at that time, comparatively speaking, every tenth 
house was a tavern, and every twentieth of bad report. 

I think there were not more than about four or five families 
of Friends in Newtown and its vicinity, no meeting of Friends 
nor hardly such a thing thought of. No coach-making and 
very little mechanical business of any kind, for the people of 
the place seemed principally to depend upon the courts and 
the spoil of litigious contention. The lawyers, county officers, 
and principal men of the place, were mostly free masonSy 
among whom religion and morals were at a yery low ebb. 

In the beginning of the 9th month, I went on business to 
the Eastern Shore of Maryland, and stopped at Joseph Tat- 
naFs, at Brandy wine, who had married a distant relation to 
my father. I was treated with great kindness, and being un- 
well tarried the next day, and attended a funeral, where being 
brought under solemn exercise, I felt it my duty to speak a 



58 

few words at tlie grave. Next day being First-day^ I attended 
the morning meeting at Wilmington. Not being an acknow- 
ledged minister^ I was for taking my seat on the floor as usual, 
when some elderly Friends laid hold of me and forced me into 
the gallery. This was a new place for me ; however, I thought 
it my duty to speak, and what I said seemed well received by 
the meeting, and I think it is not unlikely that that part of 
my communication that the people most admired was borrow- 
ed, for like too many young ministers, I not only borrowed 
other people's money, but their sentiments and language; and 
hence it was I passed, like too many others, for more than I 
was worth. In the afternoon I proceeded on my journey to 
the Eastern .Shore, transacted my business, and returned to 
my friend Tatnal's, at Brandy wine, where an elderly Friend 
told me what great satisfaction my discourse had given, and 
that he had heard an aged and respectable member say, that 
it was the greatest sermon he had ever heard, since Samnel 
Fothergill's. Here now was a sop calculated to send me out 
in the dark with the devil. I knew the dose was poison, but 
then it was so sweet. Had I listened attentively to the voice 
of the heavenly Shepherd, like our ancient friend Luke Cock, 
who, though a poor illiterate butcher, was a great preacher, 
and went up to London in the days of William Penn, and 
after preaching one of his great sermons, being in a per- 
spiration when he sat down, William threw his cloak over 
his shoulders, when, says Luke, the devil whispering in my 
ear, ^^ Luke thee has beat them all at preaching.'' But my 
good master, continued he, addressed my other ear, " Luke 
thee must not be proud, or thee is ruined." I say if I had 
attended to the voice of the heavenly Shepherd, I would not 
have suffered the song of a silly woman to have puffed me up 
with pride. But to be compared to Samuel Fothergill, was 
too much for such a poor, vain, trifling young thing as I was, and 
I think I returned home something like a head and shoulders 
higher than when I left. However, be that as it may, 1 was 
soon recommended as a Friend that had a gift in the ministry 
by Middletown Monthly Meeting, to the .select quarter, and 
there acknowledged. This, I think, was in the 11th month, 
1811. 

In the 1st month, 1812, or perhaps it was 1813, I went to 
Philadelphia to attend the funeral of a relative, and it being 



59 

the time of their monthly meetings, when all the queries were 
answered, I thought I felt a freedom to attend them, and went 
to the North meeting on Third-day. It was a larger meeting 
than common, in consequence of Susannah Home, from Eng- 
land, being there. After she had got through, I thought it 
right to speak, and I think it is not unlikely that the fear I 
felt on seeing myself surrounded by such an assembly, for I 
had taken my seat on the floor, and the self-confidence I had 
recently gained, threw me off of the right path, and I wan- 
dered a little too far, as was beautifully expressed by dear old 
Thomas Scattergood, in the last meeting. When about to 
take my seat, a rich, pompous merchant said, ^^ Young man 
sit down, thy words have not the savour of divine truth. ^^ I 
sat down and was almost astonished that I should feel so calm 
and quiet, especially as my nature was so excitable, and this 
was the first rebuke I ever had met with. The meeting soon 
separated, and the women went into another apartment. I 
ought to have sat quiet, but I got up and went out of the house, 
and soon fell into darkness and confusion, and concluded to go 
home, but in passing up Key's alley, I overtook a plain old 
man, who told me not to be discouraged, it was nobody but 
William Sansom, and he was not worth minding. I immedi- 
ately went back to the meeting and went up into the gallery, 
and took my seat with the ministers. I then sat facing my 
opponent, who was a very fine, handsome looking man, but I 
thought he looked a little alarmed at seeing me in that seat. 
When the second query was read, and its answer brought be- 
fore us, the state of the meeting, I aroge and spoke in sub- 
stance as follows : "I feel a concern to make a few remarks 
touching the subject matter embraced in this query and an- 
swer. But before I proceed, it may be right just to notice a 
rather extraordinary circumstance that occurred in the forego- 
ing meeting that may be the cause of some speculation, and 
as a stranger, inform the meeting who I am. My name is 
Edward Hicks. I am a member of Middletown Monthly 
and Particular Meeting,^ in Bucks quarter, and a member of 
the meeting of ministers and elders. Now if I have said any 
thing in the meeting for worship, contrary to the doctrines of 
the Christian religion as recorded in the New Testament, and 
professed by Friends, I stand amenable to those whose province 
it is to have a special care over me. But the puhlic rebuke, 



GO 

from a j)rivafe member, I consider derogatory to tlie decency 
and order of society, and beneath the dignity of a gentleman 
and a Christian. Nevertheless, I am thankful I can state with 
sincerity, that so far from feeling any resentment, for such 
unkind treatment, I could embrace the dear brother in my 
arms in love, who may have verily thought he was doing God 
service/' It may have been permitted in wisdom — unerring 
wisdom. I may have been wrong even in taking my seat where 
I did. I might have got wrong in my communication; be 
that as it may, I feel love in my heart to all, and would wish 
to preserve the unity of the spirit in the bonds of peace/' &c. 
As soon as I sat down, an aged minister, and native of Bucks 
county, arose and spoke in substance, " I believe it right for 
me to confirm the young man's testimony. I have known him 
from his infancy, and I know that he is not only a member, 
but a minister in good unity, and I hope that the disorderly 
treatment he has met with in this meeting, will be properly 
noticed by the overseers, and friends preserved from unprofit- 
table conversation on the subject, and so forth." 

Thomas Scattergood then spoke nearly in the following 
manner : ^' I rejoice, friends, that this matter has taken the 
turn that it has. I was sorry for the interruption, and felt 
much for the young man, who I saw was a stranger. I thought 
that he had got a little lost, and I was travelling with him in 
spirit, to find a safe landing place. But however wrong he 
may have been, he has now certainly confirmed his doctrine of 
the importance of love, by his example," then offered a little 
plaster for my opponent, by saying that we were all liable to 
mistakes, and that even Paul himself seems to have got a little 
wrong, when he spoke too precipitately to one in authority. 
But when he discovered his mistake, he said, " I wist not, 
brethren, that it was God's high priest." Several other friends 
expressed themselves in like manner, and their unity with me, 
and the meeting ended apparently with the best of feelings. 
And after meeting. Friends seemed as if they would have taken 
me by force, and made me king, and none appeared more kind 
and pressing for me to go home with them than William San- 
som. I went, however, with my kind, humble friend, Abra- 
ham Lower. 

This victory, in one of the largest, wealthiest and most re- 
spectable monthly meetings in tbe city, if not in the yearly 



61 

meeting, was too much for a poor shallow creature like me, 
and I was evidently too much elated. In the evening three of 
the elders called upon me. One of them was brother-in-law 
to William Sansom, and no doubt a little mortified that his 
brother had committed himself so as to be brought under the 
care of the overseers. This friend appeared to be sour enough 
to leaven the whole lump. They first began by finding fault 
with some expressions I used; particularly ^^ eternal reason,'' 
I explained my meaning : that reason being the highest fac- 
ulty of the soul, was the only recipient of the Divine light. 
The one I compared to the moon, and the other to the sun. 
As the light of the moon that shines on our earth, comes from 
the sun, so the light of reason, when properly used in promo- 
ting the cause of Christ, is an emanation from Christ, the 
eternal Son of righteousness, consequently eternal in its na- 
ture and everlasting in its duration. They seemed not disposed 
to be satisfied ; I fear too much like the wolf in the fable, that 
wanted to quarrel with the lamb for muddying the water so that he 
could not drink, though the lamb was below him in the stream, 
and tried to explain to him the impossibility of his charge be- 
ing true. The wolf referred to some old family quarrel, as a 
pretext to destroy the innocent, I do not wish to apply this 
in its fullest extent to these elders, but I verily believe they 
were wrong in coming, after what had passed in the monthly 
meeting. Be that as it may, I am sure I was not right in 
talking to them as I did, towards the close of our interview, 
for I had lost the christian spirit that I had in the monthly 
meeting, when truth bore away the victory, and they left me 
in a state bordering on despair. 

I have thought that had I been of a melancholy complexion 
I might have been tempted to commit suicide, that dreadful 
sleepless night. I was now down low enough, and in the mornino- 
determined to go home. But an inward voice seemed to com- 
mand me to go to Pine Street. This seemed to me terrible, for 
I had heard of Nicholas Wain and Jonathan Evans, and dread- 
ed to come in contact with them ', as though they were a lion 
and a bear. But to Pine street Monthly meeting [ must go, 
and had any one, with Christian sympathy, met me on my 
way, and known the distressed state of my poor soul, they 
would have pitied me in their heart. At this meeting I took 
my seat in .the gallery with fear and trembling. When I 

6 



62 

thought it right to speak, and stood up, Nicholas Wain look- 
ed at me as though he would look me through, but 1 went on 
with my communication, to the relief of my own mind, and 
the satisfaction of Friends. In the meeting for business, when 
the third query and its answer came up, I made some remarks, 
using strong expressions, and whether it alarmed the old na- 
tive of Bucks, who stood by me the preceding day, or not, I 
cannot say, but he immediately arose and informed the meet- 
ing who 1 was. When Jonathan Evans said the young man 
was an entire stranger to him, but he had unity with his spirit. 
<< So have 1 — so have 1,'^ responded something like twenty 
voices along the galleries, and in different parts of the meet- 
ing. After meeting. Friends manifested great kindness, and I 
went immediately home, I think, upon the whole, substantially 
benefitted by the severe probation. 

This incidental circumstance increased my danger, by giving 
me a notoriety and popularity I certainly never merited. Be- 
fore this, when 1 went to Philadelphia, 1 could hardly find any 
other home than a public house ; but now the greatest difficul- 
ty I had, was to know what Friend's house to go to, so many 
seemed to want me. Besides I unfortunately discovered that 
I had a higher standing amongst the respectable inhabitants 
of Bucks county, than 1 had expected, for some of them re- 
sented the treatment I met with from William Sansoni, by a 
notice of it at the public coffee-house in the city. 

In the spring of 1813, I laid before Middletown Monthly 
Meeting a prospect to travel as a minister, and obtained a 
minute expressive of the unity of that meeting, to visit the 
meetings belonging to Philadelphia and Abington quarters. 
The utmost extent would be something like one hundred and 
sixty miles. 

I now come to that part of my narrative where T shall be 
under the necessity of recording some views that I think have 
lately been given me with great clearness, and will be in oppo- 
sition to the generally received opinions among Friends and 
others. 

In a retrospect of my past life, that part of it spent in tra- 
velling as a Gospel minister, which was not in accordance with 
the example of our most Holy Head, set before us in the 
holy mount, yields but little satisfaction ; and I verily believe 
in CTery instance where I exceeded or went beyond his exam- 



63 



pie, I had better stayed at home. Paul was not altogether 
mistaken when he recommended the promulgators of the Gos- 
pel in his day, to follow his example and remain unmarried; 
but admitted there might be instances where it would be bet- 
ter to marry; such I conceive were embraced in another com- 
mandment of Paul's, and a testimony of the primitive saints : 
^^ Study to be quiet and do your own business, and work with 
your own hands that you may provide things honest in the 
sight of all men, and that you may lack nothing, for he that 
will not thus provide for his own household, denies the faith 
and is worse than an infidel." Hence it appears clear to me that 
the primitive Christians would have considered that every 
young man, who was a minister, as well as others that got 
married and brought the object of their love into the difficulty of 
raising a family of children, were bound by every principle of 
honor and justice to stay with them, and assist in the arduous 
work or business of bringing them up, and in making a 
reasonable provision for their comfort. How then can I justi- 
fy a part of my own conduct, who, in addition to leaving my 
poor feeble wife, to struggle with complicated difficulties, bor- 
rowed my friend's money, promising to pay in a given time, 
with legal interest, from the date thereof, then started off a 
travelling as a preacher, to be waited upon, flattered, and fed 
upon the best my friends could provide for me, thus squan- 
dering other people's money, and idling away that time, that, 
in one sense, properly belonged to my creditors. 

Now it would have made the thing better, if, like the hon- 
est, industrious Paul, I had worked at my trade a part of the 
time, so as not only to pay my own expenses, but to send 
something home to my wife, and to my creditors ; but this 
old fashioned honesty has long been entirely out of fashion. 

If then, I have so poor an opinion of some of my own conduct, 
connected with travelling as a preacher, what must I think of 
a brother, but a little older than myself, of whom, I think, it 
will be safe to say, that since he has been an acknowledged 
minister in the society, he has never done work enough with 
his own hands to pay the expense of raising one of his child- 
ren as they ought to be. His first wife, if I am not mistaken, 
had to struggle with poverty, sickness and death, leaving a 
large family of helpless children, while he was absent travelling 
as a preacher. But even this dispensation of affliction, appeared 



64 

tp be but little impediment in the way of his missionary la- 
bors, for in his travels he soon found another wife, twenty 
years younger than himself, by whom he had another flock of 
children, making in the whole somewhere between fifteen and 
twenty children. Now if he never worked enough with his 
own hands to raise one child, I wonder what the apostle Paul 
would have thought of such a man, if he had met with him, 
about the time he wrote his second epistle to the Thessalo- 
nians. (See the 3d chapter, from the" 6th to the 12th verses.) 
Would not Paul have withdrawn from such a man, as a dis- 
orderly person ? I think he would. But as this man does 
not belong to the same part of society that I do, perhaps I 
had better let him alone and confine myself a little more to 
my own conduct, and the ministers in unity with me. Suffice 
it to say what I verily believe, it would have been more con- 
sistent with the example of our blessed Saviour, for him, as 
well as myself, to have staid more at home and attended more 
strictly to those social and relative duties, that characterize the 
practical Christian, and set a better example to some of those 
restless, roving ministers, who are in a fair way to split upon 
the same rock. Oh ! that these could keep a more single eye 
to the precepts and example of Jesus Christ, who, although 
he could walk on the water, the utmost extent of his journey 
did not much exceed one hundred miles. And, oh ! that they 
could especially consider that HE walked in the path of humble 
industry, for it appears clear to me that from twelve years old 
to twenty be was subject to his parents, and worked with his 
own hands, at the highly honorable and useful trade of a car- 
penter, and from twenty to thirty, his reputed father being 
dead, he continued the business for the support of his mother 
and her family. And during the three years of his glorious 
ministry, I have no idea that he spent all his time without working 
with his own hands, for his mother still claimed his care because 
she was poor, as to this world, and, like her son, had Bot where 
to lay her head ; be therefore commended her in the hour of 
death to his beloved John, who, from that hour took her to his 
own home. 

How few ministers, even among Friends, are willing to fol- 
low this high and holy example. How many there are that 
keep boarding schools, those nurseries of pride and idleness. 
How many are gentlemen dentists, and charge more for two or 



65 

three hours' work, than a poor carpenter could get for a week or 
ten days^ hard labor. How many are living idly, on usury and 
oppressing the poor, so that many are almost ready to sink in 
the quicksands of despair. 

I think there was one man who came from England about 
twenty years ago that professed to be the friend of Christ, and 
one of his ministers, yet he did not obey his commandments, 
nor follow him in the path of humble industry, for he worked 
not at all, but lived entirely on usury. Now which of the two 
characters did this man most resemble, the humblC; industrious 
carpenter of Nazareth, or a rich Scribe or Pharisee, that would 
compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he was 
made, make him two fold more the child of Hell than he was. 
" Wo unto you Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for you com- 
pass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made 
you make him two-fold more the child of hell than yourselves." 
From this awful declaration of the divine Saviour, I conclude 
he was decidedly opposed to the missionary spirit of the Jews, 
because they made their proselytes worse. Now it appears 
from history, they were great travellers, and had founded set- 
tlements in every province of the Roman Empire, and had 
theological seminaries to disseminate their principles. Such 
was the state of apostate Judaism — such now is the state of 
apostate Christendom. 

When God was pleased to manifest himself in the fulness, 
and present to a world of intelligent beings, that glorious per- 
sonage called Jes,%Ls Christ, such was the light and pow^r of 
his introduction into the world, that the angelic host proclaim- 
ed, '^ Glory to God in the highest on earth, peace and good will 
to men." An emanation from this light and power drew the 
wise men from the east, to worship it. Even in its infancy 
the gradual increase of this light and power was secretly oper- 
ating upon visited souls, in all nations ; for the time had come 
that the vision of the Lord's prophets, four hundred years be- 
fore, was now to be fulfilled, ^' That the mountain of the Lord's 
house should be established in the top of the mountains, and 
exalted above the hills, and all nations should flow unto it.'' 
Hence it appears that this heavenly light, which was to en- 
lighten the Gentiles, and be the glory of the Lsrael of GoD 
was to draw all men to it. This was the king, and this was 
the kingdom that all men were to press into. And although 

6* 



66 

the outward appearance of this king, was the person of an 
illiterate^ humble carpenter of Nazareth, who suifered the ig- 
Eominous death of the cross, yet his fame in the short space of 
three years had so spread throughout the whole Roman Em- 
pire, that Tiberias Caesar proposed that he should be enrolled 
among the Roman deities. No marvel, then, that the drawing 
cords of God's love to a fallen world, in this extraordinary 
personage, should have drawn devout men from every nation 
under heaven to Jerusalem, the city of a thousand prophecies, 
and the theatre of action, where the most awful and tremend- 
ous tragedy was acted. 

I have travelled considerably in several States of the Union, 
and once into Canada, and I now verily believe for the most part 
— with the exception of my Canadian journey — it had been bet- 
ter to have done as I think others had better have done, learnt 
the subjection of my own will at home, endeavoring to be a 
consistent Christian minister, a loving and faithful husband, an 
affectionate father, saying daily to my children, in the silent 
but powerful language of example, "follow me as I follow 
Christ;" in a word, filling up with propriety all the social and 
relative duties of life that constitute the crown and diadem of a 
perfect man, and in order to this essential attainment to a per- 
fect gospel minister, followed my blessed Saviour more steadily, 
in the path of humble industry. I should then have never 
needed the assistance of my friends in a pecuniary way, a cir- 
cumstance that has been the greatest yoke of bondage upon my 
Christian liberty, caused the most sleepless nights and wearisome 
days, and, in a word, the most heartfelt sorrow of all the sins I 
ever committed. And 0, young man, especially a minister, 
who may read this, take my advice, NEVER GO IN debt — NEVER 
BORROW MONEY. But if thou doest, be sure to exert thyself to 
the utmost in the path of humble industry to pay the utmost 
farthing ; remembering that no man or woman can ever become 
the child of Grod, much less his minister, whilst they trample 
under foot with impunity, Justice, one of his divine attributes. 

It' I had my time to go over again I would try strictly to 
obey the advice in our excellent discipline, and so scrupulously 
live within the bounds of my circumstances, that if I earned but 
twenty cents p^r day I would live on ten or fifteen. Oh ! this 
borrowing money and then borrowing again to pay the interest, 
or leaving it unpaid until the avaricious monster, usury, comes 
upon the poor debtor with accumulated ruin. 



67 

With what distressing discouragement I have sat in some of 
our large meetings and counted the heads of my creditors, till I 
found myself sinking in the quicksands of despair. But oh ! in 
the depths of humility, I looked to a Saviour. Like Saul of 
Tarsus, in the street called Strait, I fervently prayed. A mer- 
ciful Saviour heard my prayer, and sent his good Ananias to 
remove the scales from mine eyes, and a way was opened where 
there appeared to be no way, and I was plucked out of the hor- 
rible and overwhelming flood that was carrying me to destruc- 
tion, and placed on the bank of deliverance, where I have sung 
the praises of my dear Redeemer ; and oh ! that I may continue 
to ascribe to Him, and to Him alone, thanksgiving and praise 
for ever and ever. I will here give my views of the instruments 
of my deliverance. 

I think the concern first originated with dear S. W., a lovely 
minister of the everlasting Grospel, who communicated it to her 
father, perhaps while she lay on her death bed. Doctor J. W., 
of Buckingham, was a man who embraced in his character tho 
happy compound of the gentleman and the Christian. His phi- 
lanthropic soul prepared him immediately to communicate the 
concern of his dying daughter to two of my most particular 
friends, who entering in to it most seriously, like Ananias came 
to me, saying that the Lord Jesus had sent them, and that they 
believed it to be their religious duty to assist me. Having the 
fullest confidence in their high and holy profession, I opened 
myself by degrees to them, when they adopted the plan of ap- 
plying to some of my rich relatives in New York, who most 
kindly advanced liberally to them, especially I. H. and S. H. 

I am certainly under great obligations, as they acted, I hope, 
in obedience to Christ's commandment, '^ Make unto yourselves 
friends of the mammon of unrighteousness, that when ye fail 
they may receive you into everlasting habitations.'' So they 
are received into my heart, or never dying soul, and while mem- 
ory remains, not only they, but their children's children, shall 
be had in grateful remembrance. Many other dear friends 
manifested great kindness and sympathy. 

I. H. died soon after my acquaintance with him ; but his 
brother S. continued his kind correspondence for near twenty 
years, and what is remarkable, in no one iostance, that I can 
recollect, did he ever intimate that I was under the least obli- 
gation to him. Ah, I wish I could say so of all others. But 



I must add that one of the two dear friends that first came to 
me in the street called Strait, to enquire after me, manifested 
the same noble, disinterested spirit; but he is now gone to the 
eternal world, and I hope to meet him amongst the ransomed in 
Jacob and the redeemed in Israel. 

Dear cousin S. H. is also dead. He died on the 12th of the 
10th month, 1837. I was on board the canal boat near Pitts- 
burgh, in company with his brother V. and his wife, on our re- 
turn from Indiana at the time. 

It being one of the most remarkable circumstances of my life, 
I will simply state the fact to the best of my understanding. 

On the night of the eleventh and twelfth I was quite unwell, 
having travelled hard the preceding day in order to take the 
boat at Pittsburgh. I doubted then^ and still continue to doubt 
the propriety of that journey, and my spirits as well as my health 
were suffering. But on the morning of the 12th, my poor de- 
jected soul was preciously visited with the quickening presence 
of my blessed Saviour, when the spirit of prayer flowed like that 
river which proceeds from the threshhold of the throne of Gody 
and spreads through the heritage of his /S'wi, unlimited as eter- 
nity ; — and as my manner of devotional exercise, when thus fa- 
vored, was, and still is, to pray fervently for myself first, that 
my faith and love for my blessed Saviour might be increased, 
that I might be more and more dedicated and preserved to do 
his will, and then those who are the nearest and dearest to me 
in the circle of my acquaintance — hence my wife and children 
and nearest and dearest friends, especially those that are sick 
and suffering ; and then the mind being thus quickened and 
made fruitful in the house of prayer, secretly supplicates for 
the suffering seed throughout the world. Whilst thus solemnly 
engaged, when I came to my dear cousia S. H. I felt something 
like an awful pause, and a small still voice seemed to address 
the ear of my soul, saying, >' He has gone to the eternal world." 
I cannot find language that possesses force suflScient to describe 
my feelings. Suffice it to say I was almost as certain that he 
was dead, as if I had heard it from a special messenger sent to 
inform thereof. We had heard on the evening of the 10th, by 
a letter from New York, that he was sick, and when we arrived 
at Lancaster, being detained in consequence of some deficiency 
in the line, cousin V. soon came to me with a Philadelphia pa- 
per in his hand^ and the tears rolling down his cheeks^ saying, 



69 

in broken accents, ^^here it is, brother S. is dead/' V/s com- 
munication scarcely moved me, for I was prepared for it. 

-As an American merchant, he had few equals; and perhaps 
none stood higher in England and on the continent of Europe. 
His wife died a few years before him, a tender, lovely woman. 
In them I lost two of my best friends. 

Having been led off of the regular channel of narrative, and 
wandered a little into peculiar and f«.vorite views respecting 
missionary travelling, I must return again to 1813. 

Soon after my first travelling as an acknowledged minister, I 
was evidently slipping into the popular current, when another 
severe shock was permitted to come upon me. I was still a 
member of Middletown Monthly and Particular meeting, where 
there were three or four other ministers, and living- as near 
"Wrightstown, then the largest meeting in the quarter, and no 
minister there that was able to attend, I consulted some of our 
elders as to the propriety of my attending that meeting, as way 
should open. They encouraged me to attend to the concern, 
and I went, where I was placed at the head of a very large 
meeting. 

The almost peculiar kindness of friends and others was fan- 
ning my native vanity into a flame, while a secret conspiracy 
was forming in the select Preparative Meeting of Middletown 
against me, and which broke out in the next sitting of that 
meeting. I have thought it originated with two ministers who 
had the seeds of orthodoxy — jealousy and envy — then in them. 
They made use of my dear old father, William Blakey, as a kind 
of catspaw. It was a distressing time, and I think I defended 
myself more like a soldier than a Christian. The select meeting, 
composed of about ten or twelve men and women, were almost 
equally divided, and if I remember right broke up somewhat 
confusedly, and upon the whole it was rather a disreputable 
concern. My good old spiritual father was so hurt with his 
own conduct, and that of some others, that his son told me he 
could neither eat nor sleep till he had another interview with me, 
which took place at the house of an elder, in the absence of the 
two orthodox ministers above alluded to. Here the father and 
son were reconciled, and he continued his fatherly affection as 
long as he lived. But the treatment I had met with — notwith- 
standing I might have deserved it — and the evident derange- 
ment in the unity of Middletown meeting, almost overset me. 



70 

I thougbt I was now done forever, and seemed almost disposed 
to sink into a gloomy melanclioly, when it seemed impressed 
upon my mind to leave them and go to Wrightstown altogether. 
My wife uniting with me, we spoke for our certificates of remo- 
val. The overseers expressed their sorrow that I was going to 
leave them, and my few opposers tried to stop my certificate 
by such improper measures as ended in their own trouble of 
mind. 

About this time the settlement of a Friend's meeting in New- 
town was much talked of. The courts of justice were removed 
and the public buildings were vacant. There were by this time 
several families of Friends in the town and its vicinity, and a 
considerable number in the country round about ; but they be- 
longed to three different monthly meetings, Wrightstown, Mid- 
dletown, and the Falls. Of course the application to hold an 
indulged meeting for worship in the old Court House, which was 
rented for that purpose, on first and third day mornings for six 
months, was made to all three of those meetings. The request 
was granted, and committees appointed to have the care thereof 
for six months, from the 1st day in the 4th month, 1815. 
This was the beginning of Newtown meeting. At the expira- 
tion of the first six months the application was renewed for six 
and twelve months more, and before that expired, application 
was made for a, j^reparative meeting, to be a branch of Wrights- 
town monthly meeting, and permission to build a new meeting 
house. After meeting with some opposition, it finally received 
the sanction of the quarter ; and here I would pleasantly notice 
what I have often pleasantly, and I hope innocently told. Our 
opposers, though few in number, tried, as a last subterfuge, to 
alarm the Quarterly meeting, by stating that the Quarterly 
meeting would become responsible for any expense that Friends 
of Newtown might please to go to, if they granted them per- 
mission to build. As spokesman for my friends I arose and 
addressed the meeting in substance as follows : " Friends of 
Newtown ask no pecuniary favors of Bucks quarterly meeting 
or any other meeting. We are willing and entirely able to 
build the house ourselves. We only want the unity of the 
spirit in the bond of peace." What constitutes the peculiarity 
and singularity of this declaration, the man that made it was 
perhaps not worth one cent if his debts were paid. J3ut I was 
present when seven rich Friends pledged themselves to build the 
house. 



71 

I will here advert again to the causes of my pecuniary em- 
barrassments. 

In addition to a constitutional weakness, I quit the only busi- 
ness I understood, and for which I had a capacity, viz. paint- 
ing, for the business of a farmer, which I did not understand, 
and for which I had no qualifications whatever. I verily thought 
then, and still think, farming more consistent with the Chris- 
tian, and was willing to sacrifice all my fondness for painting. 
But it would not do, for notwithstanding I worked hard, I went 
behind hand daily. The cruel moth of usury was eating up my 
outward garment, soon to expose me a poor naked bankrupt ; 
for my father, who I thought had given me forty acres of land 
in the vicinity of the village, altered his mind and took it from 
me, leaving me with only twenty acres, for which I had given 
eighty-six dollars per acre at public sale, and which I had to 
sell for forty dollars. Thus ended my farming speculation. 

If the Christian world was in the real spirit of Christ, I do 
not believe there would be such a thing as a fine painter in 
Christendom. It appears clearly to me to be one of those tri- 
fling, insignificant arts, which has never been of any substantial 
advantage to mankind. But as the inseparable companion of 
voluptuousness and pride, it has presaged the downfall of em- 
pires and kingdoms ; and in my view stands now enrolled among 
tlie premonitory symptoms of the rapid decline of the American 
Republic. But there is something of importance in the exam- 
pleof the primitive Christians and primitive Quakers, to mind 
their callings or business, and work with their own hands at 
such business as they are capable of, avoiding idleness and fa- 
naticism. Had I my time to go over again I think I would 
take the advice given me by my old friend Abraham Chapman, 
a shrewd, sensible lawyer that lived with me about the time I 
was quitting painting; '' Edward, thee has now the source of 
independence within thyself, in thy peculiar talent for painting. 
Keep to it, within the bounds of innocence and usefulness, and 
thee can always be comfortable.^' 

The apostle Paul exhorted the primitive believers to be con- 
tent With their outward situation, even if they were slaves, and 
the primitive Quakers seemed to manifest the same spirit, only 
choosing, as Paul says, their liberty the rather. As to the call- 
ing or busmess by which they got their living, Thomas Elwood 
informs us a particular friend of his was a barber, and followed 



72 

dressing noblemen's heads. And from my own observation and 
experience, I am rather disposed to believe that too many of 
those conscientious difficulties about our outward calling or 
business that we have learned as a trade to get our living by, 
which are in themselves honest and innocent, have originated 
more in fanaticism than the law of the spirit of life in Christ 
Jesus. 

Being forced as it were to return to painting, though with 
spirits and constitution somewhat impaired, friends and others 
most kindly patronized me, and the county and township officers 
gave me a considerable number of directors or index boards to 
paint, which to me was a profitable job. But working too 
steadily, day and night, whilst my bodily health was delicate, 
brought on an affection of my lungs, with all the symptoms of 
pulmonary consumption. In this situation the Heavenly Shep- 
herd in mercy and goodness laid upon me a concern to travel, 
first to the South in the spring, and in the autumn to the North, 
in New York and Canada. In these journeys I rode near 3000 
miles on horseback, which I am disposed to believe was the 
cause of changing the nature of my complaint from pulmonary 
to long consumption or chronic cough. 

As a short account of my Northern journey may be interest- 
ing, I will try to state some facts, (though I have told some of 
the anecdotes so often that perhaps, being a painter, I may have 
added to them a little fresh color at times.) 

I left home on the 4th of 9th month, 1819, in company with 
Isaac Parry, an elder of Abington quarter, and Mathias Hutch- 
inson, an amiable young man of Bucks quarter, and travelled 
through the northern part of Pennsylvania and the western part 
of New York State. Our first meeting in New York State was 
at Bath, the county town of Steuben. We arrived in the eve- 
ning, and put up at a very respectable tavern. 

When my friends consulted the landlord and some of the 
chief men of the village as to the propriety of having a meeting 
in the Court House next day at eleven o'clock, they entered 
cheerfully into the concern, particularly a Doctor C, and notice 
was given. I have but little recollection as to the size of the 
meeting, but my impression is it was a dull, lifeless concern on 
my part, and did not add any thing to the advancement of 
truth. But it appeared that my friends and others thought 
differently, and the Doctor was quite astonished that I should 



7a 

Iiave prepared a sermon so suitable to the congregation^ in so 
sliorfc a time. But when he was told that it was neither studied 
nor prepared, his astonishment increased wonderfully. The 
greatest difficulty we had was with the landlord, who refused 
to receive any pay for our entertainment. But after stating 
that our principles led us conscientiously to pay, he very reluc- 
tantly received pay for our horses, and my two companions, but 
refused positively to receive any thing for entertaining the 
preacher. 

Our next meeting was a monthly meeting, held at Farming- 
ton, Ontario county. It was composed, I think, of seven prepa- 
rative meetings, and lasted from eleven o'clock until sundown. 
If I remember right, it was an interesting meeting, and conduc- 
ted with a good degree of harmony. From this meeting notice 
went on nearly a hundred miles towards Canada, to the meetings 
in the new settlements. Notice was likewise given of our being 
at Farmington on First day, in consequence of which much peo- 
ple got together, and I fear I preached too much. Notwith- 
standing, it was thought, even by my friends, to be a great meet- 
ing. But if I remember right, our Saviour's language might 
best describe my labors: " The kingdom of heaven suffered 
violence, and the violent took it by force." 

We had a meeting on Second day evening at Rochester, six- 
teen miles on our way, after which I saw and felt the symptoms 
of an approaching storm among Friends. A minister and his 
brother seemed disposed to cavil about speculative doctrines. 
Next day we went to Raga, about twenty miles in a new settle- 
ment, and put up at the house of the principal man, who was a 
justice of the peace. The meeting was appointed at three 
o'clock, about which time Friends and others assembled, and it 
is said I was led to speak of man, in his unredeemed state, be- 
ing as much disposed to fight as a dog, and that it was even 
possible that when those animals get to fighting, that their 
masters would follow their example, and after degrading them- 
selves to the level of the brutC; would manifest the spirit of the 
Devil, by sueing at the law. I have no recollection myself 
what I said, but I was told by my friends afterwards that the 
magistrate with whom we dined, and one of his neighbors, had 
been fighting in consequence of their dogs fighting, and were 
then at law with each other. 

We had meetings at Shelby, Hartland; Stateland, and Roy- 
7 



74 

alton ; and travelled mostly on the ridge road, as great a curi- 
osity almost as the Falls of Niagara, and turning to the right 
and left into the new settlements, either between Eaga and 
Shelby, or Shelby and Hartland, we passed through a new 
small town or village, on the ridge road, called Sandy Creek ; 
where the yellow fever was more destructive according to the 
number of inhabitants, than it ever was in Philadelphia or New 
York. It was about noon, and we stopped at the first tavern, 
where the landlord had just breathed his last. We went to the 
next, which appeared uninhabited. The third had taken down 
their sign, and were too sick to give us a dinner. We then saw 
a man we took to be a miller. He appeared to be a walking 
corpse, as yellow almost as saffron. He told us nearly all the 
people of the place were either sick or dead, and we would have 
to go about four miles to the next tavern, where we might get 
dinner. 

Our meetings at Hartland and Koyalton are distinctly re- 
membered — the first for the remarkable favor of the divine 
presence, which melted us all into tenderness and love. The 
second was remarkable for an extraordinary person that attend- 
ed it. As soon as I arose to speak, a man kneeled, and re- 
mained on his knees, in perfect silence, if I mistake not, till I 
finished my communication, when he took his seat, and after a 
solemn silence, arose and addressed the meeting, in an eloquent, 
solemn, and affecting manner; stating the difficulties he had 
met with, and the great distance he had come, which I think 
was more than twenty miles, to attend that meeting, and thank- 
fulness he felt for the favor. As soon as meeting ended, he 
went, as I thought, right off, without speaking to any body ; 
and I did not understand that any one knew him, or from 
whence he came, or whither he went. His looks were those of 
a superior man, but his clothing was very indifferent. 

Next day we crossed the Niagara at Lewistown, and ascended 
Queenston Heights, and rode seven miles to the great Falls ; 
where, putting up our horses and speaking for our suppers and 
lodgings, we went to see the mighty wonder of the world. 
Since we left Rochester we had an addition to our company of 
a young man who was travelling for his health. On returning 
from the Falls to our inn, being cold and wet, we requested to 
have fire in our room ; but no notice was paid to our request. 
The landlord was from home, and had left a young man to su- 



75 

perintend his business, who appeared very sour. ' This, with the 
bad language we heard in the house, made us feel unpleasant, 
and to increase our difficulty, our fellow traveller, who was a 
native of Yermont, began to manifest a warlike spirit ; and even 
our friend I. P. appeared to be much displeased, whilst he 
walked across the room and talked of not putting up with such 
treatment, but of going to Chippewa, where he had been advised 
to go. In this dilemma I proposed trying kind words, for the 
wise man says it will turn away wrath; and as the young man 
came by us, I said, pleasantly, " young man, art thou an Eng- 
lishman?'' He answered very short, *'No, sir." I added, 
" what countryman art thou V " I am a Swede." " Ah," 
said I, ''^that will do; the Swedes are the most hospitable, hon- 
est people in the world, and I trust this young man will not 
contradict his national character." This I spoke loud enough 
for him to hear me, and the change it made in his conduct to- 
wards us was astonishing. He made us a fire immediately, had 
us an excellent supper, waited on us politely, and gave us the 
best room, and perhaps the best beds ; in which, with the roar- 
ing of the Falls and the shaking of the house, we were soon 
sung and rocked to sleep. 

My G-reen Mountain companion was quite disposed to rally 
me, saying Pennsylvanians talked about Yankee tricks, but 
what should he call my management of the Swede ? 

On our way to Young Street, more than a hundred miles in 
the interior of the Province, in the afternoon of the first day's 
journey, we travelled on the margin of Lake Ontario, and the 
deep dry sand tired our horses, as well as ourselves, so much 
that we had to put up at night at a poor little tavern near the 
outlet of Burlington Bay ; and to increase the inconvenience 
many people were there fishing at the outlet. We were all very 
tired, but our friend I, P. was almost overcome, being too heavy a 
man to travel on horseback. While supper was preparing, an 
inquisitive man asked me where we were travelling? I told him 
to Young Street. He asked if we were going to buy land? I 
told him no, we were going to visit our friends. He then asked 
if there were any preachers among us? 1 told him there was 
one, and looked towards Isaac Parry, who sat with his eyes 
shut, apparently taking no notice. There was something pe- 
culiarly solemn and dignified in his appearance, and the man 
looked at him apparently with awe and respect ; then went out 



76 

into the bar-room, and, if I remember rightly, appeared to "bo 
talking in an under tone about the Quaker preacher, which, ex- 
citing their curiosit}^, there was considerable whispering and 
peeping about the doors and windows. Isaac appeared to be 
unconscious of what had taken place, and after supper, feeling 
refreshed, he walked out on the bank of the lake, and noticed 
particularly the quiet and respectful manner in which the fish- 
ermen carried themselves towards him. This little manoeuvre 
of fixing the character of a Quaker preacher on by far the most 
dignified person belonging to our company, appears to have ope- 
rated in our favor; for we were treated with kindness and re- 
spect, and had the only two spare beds in the house^ the resfe 
sleeping as they could on the floor. 

On our way from Young Street to York^ we were advised to 
call and stay a night with an old man whose wife was a member 
among Friends. When we arrived at the place — it was a dark 
day in the latter part of the 10th month — every thing appeared 
gloomy about the premises } and to complete the black picture, 
when we went in the house, the whole family appeared dressed 
in black, and nothing like Quakerism to be seen or felt among 
them. However, they received us with something like the good 
old English hospitality. The old man, who seemed to plume 
himself on being of the same age of King George the Third, 
had received this asylum for his secret services during the Eevo- 
lutionary War. And I, too, soon had reason to suspect ho 
was the very man that led or conducted the bloodthirsty Gene- 
ral Grey to the massacre at Paoli. Any one acquainted with 
my prejudices against the English, might conclude I was nofe 
very comfortable; but had they seen the poor old man hugging 
me, when he was told by Isaac Parry that I was the grandson 
of his good old tory friend, Judge Hicks, they would have been 
quite disposed to join my friend Isaac in the enjoyment of this 
scene. 

Next morning we started as soon as it was light for York, to 
meet our young companions, who had gone on the night before. 
We found the old man up, with his bottles of brandy, &c., in- 
sisting upon our taking a morning dram with him ; but we de- 
clined his superfluous hospitality, and the grandson of an old 
tory was truly glad to escape another embrace from this patri- 
otic subject of his Britannic Majesty. 

On our way to Young Street we met with a Methodist mia- 



77 

ister, wboknew but little of Friends; but, finding we were on 
a religious visit, gave us an invitation to have a meeting in a 
new house near where he lived, that was used by different socie- 
ties. When we arrived at Young Street, and were making 
some arrangements for appointed meetings, this place was fixed 
upon to be on First day afternoon, at two o'clock. The roads 
being bad, we did not arrive at the minister's house until one 
o'clock, and found no body at home but children. However, 
we soon found a good barn, and plenty for our horses. The 
minister and his wife were at meeting, which was within sight, 
but did not return till near two o'clock. The man who had in- 
sisted upon our coming to his house for dinner seemed pleased 
to see us, but I thought his beautiful wife looked cross at us. 
However, she soon got us a dish of tea and something to eat, 
while her husband sung and talked. For my part I was so dis- 
tressed about the meeting I could neither eat nor talk, much 
less sing, and therefore walked by myself towards the meeting 
house. It was then after the hour appointed. When I got to 
the house, there was no person there. It was cold, and the 
wind and snow were driving through the weather-boards. I 
do not know that I ever felt more wretched in a meeting house. 
After a while the people began to assemble in a scattering man- 
ner, whispering to each other, while I was the object of all their 
eyes. My friends, with the Methodist and his pretty wife, al- 
so came, and we tried to get still, as far as example would go, 
but they were strangers to silence. Notwithstanding there was 
something like a pulpit, I took my seat on the end of a bench, 
where I continued to sit, with my mind apparently stripped of 
every thing that was good, with a prospect of being silent, to 
which I soon became resigned, and was thankful that I could 
bear my testimony silently to the ever blessed truth. Under 
the inflaence of this precious quiet, I heard the word of com- 
mand to stand forth in the midst, and stretch out my withered 
arm, and I soon felt the restoring power of the Gospel. The 
people began to groan, and even shout. One man near me, I 
was told, cried out passionately, ^* Oh Lord, Jesus Christ, seal 
instruction upon our souls ! Halleluia !" I tried to persuade 
them, for my sake, to try to be still, and let their groanings be 
like those the apostle spoke of — too big to be uttered. I was 
led to speak of the rights of women — that they were one in 
. Christ with men, and entitled to equal privileges, and that I 

7* 



78 

had heard the Gospel preached by them, in greater sweetness 
and power, than I had ever heard from the lips of man. There 
was a precious silence covered the meeting, which seemed only 
interrupted by the suppressed weeping of some of the women. 
After the meeting ended, our kind Methodist friend took me by 
the hand and said, in substance, " Dear brother, you ought to 
preach that sermon a dozen times over. Why we have been 
contending with our women about their right to preach.'' This 
man appeared to have the same besetting sin with myself — he 
was too light, and talked too much. But his lovely wife ap- 
peared quite changed, and could not talk much. 

After this triumphant meeting, we rode four miles to the 
best tavern on the Dundas Street, where we spent the evening 
most agreeably. The next day, if I remember right, was a day 
of too much lightness, and of course the meeting we had in the 
afternoon was rather dull and insipid. Alas I how difficult it 
is for me, whose besetting sin is lightness and vanity, to keep 
sufficiently humble, or, as Dear William Dewsbury expressed 
it in his sermon 1688, " When I have done the will of the 
Lord, wait in silent patience for the blessing of preservation." 
But instead of this, how often have I, after a favored meeting, 
taken the jewels of Christ, and put them upon cursed self, and 
thus played the part of a spiritual harlot. And is not this the 
fatal rock on which popular preachers split, and ruin them- 
selves, and scatter the flock of Christ ? Are they not, too 
often, more concerned for their own reputation as preachers, or 
the reputation of the society to which they belong, than they 
are for the salvation of the people to whom they profess to be 
sent. 

We had a number of meetings in Canada, and all I can say 
of them is, than when ever I was stript of my own covering, 
and clothed with the covering of this holy Spirit, or when, like 
the apostle, I knew nothing but Jesus Christ and him cruci- 
fied, I preached the gospel, and the people were edified or com- 
forted. But when ever I put on an old patched garment, part 
of which was borrowed, and strutted into meeting with my 
second hand finery, or knew so many pretty texts of Scripture 
by heart, as not to want to know Christ to be the resurrection 
and the life, my preaching was vain and the people's belief in 
it was vain, and like priest, like people, all remained in sin 
agreeably to Paul's doctrine, ^'Except Christ be risen, our 



79 

preaching is vain, and your faith is vain, and you are yet in your 
sins/' Ah ! dear, precious Paul, I wish I could feel that holy 
fear that thou didst, when thou wast concerned to keep cursed 
self under, lest while thou wast preaching to others thou shouldst 
become a cast away. 

We crossed the Niagara river at Black Rock, near the outlet 
of Lake Erie, and it appeared to me our lives were in jeopardy 
in consequence of the violence of the wind and water. The 
next day we arrived at Batavia, the county town of Grenesee, 
where dwelt Joseph EUicott, the wealthy agent of the Holland 
Company. It was said that he was a member of our society, 
although he made no appearance of a Friend, and less profession. 
We arrived in town a little before noon, and put up at a good 
looking tavern, near Joseph's house, and my friends Isaac Parry 
and Mathias Hutchinson, went to see him. They told him 
that Friends of Farmington had requested them, if they got to 
Batavia, and should think it right to have a meeting, to call on 
Joseph Ellicott, who was a man of influence, and would give 
them such assistance as they should need, and that they were 
in company with a ministering friend of Pennsylvania, who 
wished to have a meeting to-morrow morning, being First day. 
He answered them as roughly as Joseph did his brethren in 
Egypt, saying in substance, "If you have plenty of money and 
want to buy land I am ready to wait upon you, but as for meet- 
ing business, and preaching I know nothing about it; and, 
besides, our court house is undergoing a repair, and we have 
no place to hold a meeting, and it would be pretty high to 
keep these people waiting till Monday, to attend to your busi- 
ness.'' I think it is quite likely my friend Isaac felt a little as 
he did at the Falls of Niagara, when he gave him something 
like the following short but spirited answer : ^' We do not wish 
to put thee or anybody else to any trouble or inconvenience, 
and are only sorry that Friends of Farmington, should be so 
mistaken in their man. We will therefore bid thee farewell, 
and pass on." My friends then arose from their seats to depart 
when the old man replied in substance: stop, stop, this won't 
do, you are not going to throw the responsibility of the concern 
on my shoulders. I can't submit to it; I must see if the Metho- 
dists can't accommodate you; they like preaching as well as 
any." '■'• What is the preacher's name ?" My name was then 
mentioned, and by this time I think his carriage was ready for 



80 

him at the door, and he was off, notwithstanding it was snow- 
ing, with a promise that he would call on us directly. 

My friends returned to the tavern, but did not inform me at 
that time, what had passed, only that Joseph Ellicott was 
coming over to see me directly. And soon came into the room 
a very large man, with a white head, and a blue cloak, and 
asked for me. I arose to speak to him and he shook hands with 
me, and very kindly asked us all to come and dine with him. 
I acknowledged his kindness, but informed him that we had 
spoken for our dinners, when we put up our horses. He said 
we might leave our horses, but we must come with him, and he 
would make it all right. We went, and were treated with the 
greatest hospitality and kindness. This man appeared to be 
one of the better sort of hypocrites, pretended the worst, and 
failed at the bottom. He intended to do all he could for us, 
while he was carrying himself so roughly. He had ordered 
his carriage for the purpose of going to the trustees of the 
Academy, and to the schools, and to a Methodist minister, that 
held meeting that evening, to get him to speak of a Friends' 
meeting, to be held at the Academy next morning, at eleven 
o'clock. All this appears to have been done with a prompti- 
tude and decision, characteristic of a perfect man of business, 
before he invited us to his house. 

Next morning the old man evidently manifested anxiety about 
the meeting, more especially when he saw so many respectable 
people going, and he spoke to my friend Isaac Parry to tell me 
I must preach that day ; it would never do to disappoint so 
respectable a congregation. Isaac of course told him he could 
not comply with his request. The poor old man sighed heavily, 
and appeared under great exercise, frequently whispering to 
Isaac, *' Do you think he will preach ? You must tell him ho 
must." We went to meeting. It was large, and composed of 
the most respectable inhabitants, and I am afraid that it was 
only the personal pronoun / that preached. That is, I am 
afraid I did not preach Christ Jesus the Loi'd and myself a 
servant for Christ's sake; and what seems to increase my fears 
the old man was mightily pleased, and complimented me too 
much, which to me is pretty strong evidence that he was not 
essentially benefitted by what was said. However, my friends 
thought we had a good meeting. 

After dinner we left the kind old man^ and went towards 



81 

FarmingtoD^ taking a meeting in our way with a people that 
called themselves ChjHstians, It was held in their meeting 
house, and was what we Quakers would call a good silent meet- 
ing, but I believe the people were a good deal dissatisfied. 

I think we were at another monthly meeting, at Farmington ; 
and had several meetings in the neighborhood, and on our way 
to Scipio, where my friend Isaac Parry was taken sick, with 
something like the fever we met with on the Ridge Road ; and 
I have always been sorry that I parted with him, although he 
soon got well enough to ride home. 

I had now no other companion than Mathias Hutchinson, an 
amiable, and, I think, excellent young man, whose kindness, at- 
tention and sympathetic feelings, I hope I shall ever remember 
with love and- gratitude. After having several meetings in and 
about Scipio, we went to Skaneateles, to the house of a supe- 
rior woman, a widow and minister, where we spent a very agree- 
able evening in company with her worthy old father-in-law, a 
highly esteemed elder, from the neighborhood of New York. 
In some of the conversation of this excellent man, I thought 
I saw and felt some of the premonitory symptoms of the sor- 
rowful separation that was about to take place in society. 

Next day this accomplished woman and her son, went with 
us as far as Manlius, twenty-four miles, where we had a meet- 
ing appointed in a Methodist meeting-house, for next day at 
ten o'clock, which was the darkest morning I ever saw. I 
think, if I remember right, we had two or three candles on the 
breakfast table, at nine o'clock, in a room with three fifteen 
light windows. I am rather disposed to believe that our meet- 
ing was a poor concern, for the worthy woman kept silent, and 
my sermon was of such a character that I have reason to fear 
it was either an old one, or a horroioed one, for the Methodist 
minister asked me for a copy of it as soon as meeting broke up. 
We parted with our kind friends, they returning home and we 
proceeding on our journey, wishing to get to Eastern quarter, 
something like two hundred miles, near the State of Ver- 
mont. 

After travelling from among Friends for two days, we found by 
pushing on pretty smartly, we might get to a Friend's house in 
the evening. We got there about eight o'clock, the night be- 
ing cold, windy and dark. We saw light in the window, and 
called so loudly as to make them hoist the window, and ask 



82 

wlio was there. I answered we are weary strangers and Friends 
that have been travelling- amongst " yes sir," and ^' no sir/' 
and we wanted to find something like ^'thee." Whether it 
was the pleasant manner in which we introduced ourselves or 
not, we certainly were treated with great kindness and hospi- 
tality. My friend and I had agreed, before we got to the 
house, to try these yankee Quakers' hospitality, by not letting 
them know that we were travelling on a religious visit : hence, 
their questions having a direct bearing to that point were avoid- 
ed with a careful reference to the truth. 

Having rode near forty miles, through cold and wind, we 
were soon so sleepy as to retire to rest. I can never forget the 
motherly kindness of that dear old woman Friend. Next 
morning being the first of the week, we asked if there was not 
a Friends' meeting somewhere on the way towards Albany. 
They said Milton meeting was about eight or nine miles on 
that way. Before we left these kind Friends they found out 
our business, and wanted to send somebody with us, but we 
were not willing to put them to that trouble. 

We did not get to the meeting until after it was gathered, 
and went in quietly and sat behind the door. We had scarcely 
got settled before a good old man that sat at what is called the 
elbow of the preacher's gallery, arose and preached to us with 
propriety and consistency. Soon after he took his seat a younger 
man that I had noticed, whose countenance was marked with 
intelligence and unflinching courage, arose and spoke with en- 
ergy and feeling. This man was once called Captain Corey, an offi- 
cer in the late war. A short time after he sat down the meet- 
ing closed. As we were near the door, we were the first out, 
and went immediately to our horses, intending to go on to 
the next tavern to dinner. A man that I had noticed next to 
the old preacher came to us, and kindly asked us home with 
him to dine. We tried to excuse ourselves, stating we were 
in a hurry to get on towards Albany. But he would take no 
denial, asking us our names, and from whence we came. When I 
told him, he said " Art thou that Hicks that was in the west- 
ern part of our State two months ago, and went into Canada V 
When I told him I had been there about that time, he said, 
'* I thought so when thee came into meeting. Why did thee 
not come and take thy seat?" 

We went home with this kind elder and took dinner. Soon 



83 

after several friends came in, and among the rest the late Cap- 
tain Corej. We spent the afternoon and evening very agreea- 
bly, and notwithstanding my friends think me a great talker, I 
had reason to believe I was a mere child compared to the d3- 
scendants of the New England Puritans. 

Next day a kind friend, who had offered, went with us 
twenty miles to Saratoga, and the next day we crossed the 
North River and went to Easton, having a worthy elder of Sar- 
atoga with us, who took us to the house of his brother who was 
a minister, and his wife an elder. In the evening some allu- 
sion was made to a new doctrine, some where preaching, that 
there was no devil. I observed, I think in substance, that the 
doctrine of devils was to me somewhat dark and difficult. I 
thought I should be willing to have it explained by persons of 
age and experience, more especially as I was young and did not 
wish to hold unsound doctrines. The old minister undertook 
a kind of explanation, that rather increased the difficulty, and 
went to show how careful we should be not to talk on subjects 
of this kind without being under the influence of the great 
head of the Christian church, who said to his disciples, '^With- 
out me ye can do nothing.'' I was sorry and hurt in behold- 
ing that ravening spirit that was then secretly dividing in Ja- 
cob, subsequently to scatter in Israel. 

Next day attended the select quarterly meeting. I am 
am afraid sullenly silent. Next day the general quarterly 
meeting, pretty much in the same way, which I think was ra- 
ther a poor preparation for the youth's meeting, or meeting for 
worship, where I spoke at considerable length, and some might 
have thought it was a great meeting. But my present impres- 
sion is, that ray preaching was too much like a half baked cake, 
and the people that fed on it like Ephraim, when he fed on 
wind. Next day there was a very large gathering of people 
at the same place, in consequence of the funeral of a respecta- 
ble Friend. I spoke again and if I remember right there was 
more light and life. 

At this quarterly meeting I met with an extraordinary old 
Friend, in the station of an elder, that lived in the State of 
Vermont. Several circumstances he related I shall never for- 
get. One of which was, as nearly as I can remember, was as 
follows : 

He said he became acquainted with a respectable man, that 



84 

lived about twenty miles from him, who was in extensive bn- 
sinesSj and a Justice of the Peace. In a serious conversation 
with this man, the man told him that he must candidly ac- 
knowledge he did not believe in Christianity, not so much be- 
cause of the contradictory propositions and paradoxical difficul- 
ties it embraced, as the spirit and conduct of its most devoted 
advocates. He did most seriously wish to believe, but could 
not act the hypocrite and say he believed when he did not. The 
old elder said he felt love in his heart for this man, and great 
concern that he might be convinced of the blessed truth, as ife 
is in JesuSj and one might he awoke with a solemn impression 
that it was his duty to go and see him, and that he would be 
furnished with a message of love and encouragement for him. 
He arose early and went to the man's house, and found him 
engaged in much business, with much company. As soon as 
the man saw him he spoke to him kindly, and expressed how 
glad he was to see him. The old elder said he sat silently in 
his office for some time, in great poverty of spirit, and under 
some discouragement at the difficulty of having a suitable op- 
portunity. He got up and walked out by himself. I think 
he told me that it was in the short dark days of autumn, and 
he was thinking of returning without relieving his mind, when 
he heard a noise behind him, and turning, he saw the man 
coming to him, who thus addressed him, '' Mr. K,, I know not 
why, but I was particularly glad to see you, and thought per- 
haps you had some special business with me, so I excused my- 
self to the company to gi^e you an opportunity.'' The good 
old elder, having been emptied of himself, spoke, I trust, as 
the believers did on the day of Pentecost, with other tongues, 
as the spirit gave him utterance. The tears rolled freely down 
the man's cheeks, and when the old man had done, the man 
added, ^' I thank you, I thank you kindly, Mr. R.; I hope I 
shall remember your message of love to advantage." They then 
shook hands most affectionately, and the old elder returned to 
his own home in peace, in possession of the legacy a Saviour 
gives all his faithful disciples, " My peace I leave with you j 
my peace I give unto you." " Let not your hearts be troubled, 
neither let them be afraid." 

This was an elder worthy of double honor, a practical Chris- 
tian, that was the instrument of saving that which was lost, 
for a few days after, this man was taken sick and died, and on 



85 



his death bed he expressed his great thankfulness to the Sa- 
viour of his soul, for the message of love and encouragement 
he had received through his faithful servant. 

Oh ! that all that profess to be elders in the church of 
Christ, would go and do likewise ; how much good might be 
done. How infinitely, infinitely superior is such a course of 
conduct to that general course pursued by the leaders of the 
people in all societies. How much of that cold, hard-hearted 
cruelty, that characterized the officers of the Inquisition, has 
marked even the conduct of too many ministers and elders 
among us, enabling us to furnish the world in the beginning 
of the nineteenth century, with a miniature likeness of those 
cruel, vindictive controversies of what is called the darker 
ages. 

What Friend can look upon the page of history at the Arian 
but more especially the Nestorian contest, about inexplicable 
doctrines, and not behold a likeness of our own spirit and con- 
duct, as large as life, and that, too, in an age celebrated for 

march of mind,'^ and intellectual improvement. What would 
we Quakers not have done, could we have commanded despotic 
Emperors, and powerful armies, in our late disgraceful contro- 
versy? Would we not, instead of imprisoning a few that dared 
to open the way, into their own grave-yard in the city of Philadel- 
phia, have east thousands into loathsome dungeons, or made them 
expiate their crime on the gibbet ? Would we not, instead of 
commanding such to be silent, whose speech was unpleasant 
to us, have cut out their tongues, like the Arians did the orthodox 
Catholics .'' Would we not, instead of turning those with 
whom we could not unite out of meeting, have banished them 
into exile, as the Council of Antioch did the Nestoricins from 
all that was near and dear in this world, there to end ' their 
days? Would we not, instead of entering the houses of our 
brethren and sisters, to fasten on them the anathema embraced 
m our ecclesiastical consures, entered as a committee from the 
Holy Inquisition, to carry them to be broken upon the wheel 
or to suffer the awfully cruel torture of the rack? Some of 
my friends, especially Orthodox, may be disposed to charge 
me with supposing an extreme case, in order to cast severe 
reflections on them, and that they never would have gone to 
such extremes. True, they never would, because they never 
could; and may we not thank the divine goodness, which or- 



86 

dained " the powers that he,'' as exercised under our mild and 
excellent government, for our preservation ? 

The Jews verily thought, had they lived in the days of the 
prophets, they would not have persecuted them. But our Sa- 
viour told them that they were the very children of them that 
slew the prophets, and would fill up the measure of their fa- 
thers, which they undoubtedly did, as soon as they could make 
use of the secular power. But don^t let my Orthodox friends 
conclude that I want to fasten the persecuting spirit exclu- 
sively on them. No, no. I have seen too much of it coming 
from the opposite quarter, even from too many of my friends, 
who have adopted the Arian speculation. Indeed I have some 
reason to conclude that had some of these been such powerful 
potentates as Genseric and his son Huneric, who, it is said, cut 
out the tongues of some of the Orthodox in Africa, they would 
at least have so mutilated my poor tongue, as to prevent me from 
pronouncing the word " Saviour,'' when I applied it to Jesus 
Christ. For I was once, opposed by one of them publicly, in 
a large meeting for worship, on First-day in a Friends' meeting 
house, and he broke up the meeting in confusion, declaring 
that Jesus Christ was no Saviour. I acknowledge that it was 
said this man was partially deranged, but it was likewise said 
the greater part of the meeting was of his opinion. Be that 
as it may, the most discouraging part of this circumstance, 
was the preaching of a very dear friend of mine, in the quar- 
terly meeting a few days after, who took for his subject the 
very same text of Scripture that the violent Arian or Unita- 
rian took to to prove that Jesus Christ was no Saviour, and 
handled it too much in the same way for my peace, for I was 
now in a. difficulty, let me take which horn of the dilemma I 
would. For if my friend had heard of what had passed in the 
same house a few days before, and what my opposer had said, 
which I have reason to fear was the case, it was but too evi- 
dent to me that he was prepared to unite with him, and if he 
had not heard and delivered what he did from Divine author- 
ity, then I was all wrong, and had been for more than thirty 
years in preaching the doctrine of Paul, that Jesus Christ 
came into the world to save sinners. I was greatly discour- 
aged, and my Arian opposer triumphantly sat through the 
quarterly meeting for business, although he was not a member 
of Society. 



87 

Do not let my Orthodox friends rejoice at this, and conclude 
that their charges against us are true, for I can assure them 
that we have a large and valuable body of Friends, that are 
neither Arians, Unitarians nor Trinitarians, but firm believers 
in the plain, emphatical testimonies of Holy Writ, that Jesus 
Christ was more than a man, and more than a prophet, and 
are willing to risk their eternal all upon this immutable foun- 
dation, with the primitive Saints and primitive Quakers. 

But it has been a marvel and astonishment to me, that some 
of my friends that I certainly ought to prefer before myself, 
appear to have gone off in an opposite direction from the 
ground taken by those sons of the morning, and if the Ortho- 
dox or Trinitarians, as has been said by an eminent minister, 
are going full gallop towards Rome, I may take the liberty to 
say that the Unitarians appear to be on the long trot to Con- v 
stantinople, and, I fear, think very little more of Jesus Christ \ 
than what the Turks do; and therefore, as respects too many \ 
of them, the Orthodox charges were but too true. But the 
Orthodox were like Polyphemus in the fable, strong, but 
blind, and I may add, bigoted. Hence, they fell into the same 
error that has characterized them through the varied ages of 
the church, opposing a thing which they deemed wrong, in a 
wrong spirit. Hence, the unintelligible wrangling among us, 
about inexplicable doctrines, while cursed self led the violent 
contest, trampling under foot justice and common decency, in 
pursuit of exclusive possession of the name and jproperti/ of 
the once respectable Society of Friends. 

I have rambled again from my path of narrative, and al- 
most anticipated a subject that I had intended to try to speak 
of with care and perspicuity. 

After Easton Quarterly meeting we went to Troy and were 
there on First-day, and went from thence to Saratoga quarter, 
which was the next Fourth and Fifth-day. If I recollect right 
my own spirit and conduct was pretty much the same that it 
was at Easton, only I had improved in one important qualifi- 
cation of a consistent Quaker — I was more silent. After this 
meeting we went west, as far as Cooperstown, taking meetings 
as way opened ; and then, returning towards the North River 
took the meetings on both sides as far down as Newburgh. Of 
these meetings, I can say but little more than what I have al- 
ready said of other meetings. When I was sufficiently stript 



88 

of cursed self, and brought in the depths of humility to wash 
my Saviour^ s feet with tears, I trust his gospel was preached, 
and the people were solemn and tender ; but when self got the 
ascendancy, and I became impatient, unwilling to wait for the 
glorious resurrection of Christ within, the only hope of glory, 
concluding like the unwatchful servant that my Lord delayed 
his coming, I found I was in a disposition to smite my fellow 
servants, and was drunk with a confusion of cogitations, I 
fear I too often, like Saul, applied to a witch, to raise some- 
thing that might resemble the anti-type of Samuel, which, in- 
stead of producing peace, increased the confusion and ended 
in condemnation. 

About the first of the year 1820, we left Newburgh, setting 
our faces towards home, and arrived in the evening of one of 
the coldest snowy days I ever travelled, at the house of kind 
friends, who had everything to make us and our weary horses 
comfortable. Indeed we found many such valuable friends in 
this journey, and however such idle, shackling, gad-about min- 
isters as myself, may preach against worldly-mindedness, and, 
with our fanatical charity send to perdition too many that are 
concerned by honest industry to make comfortable provision 
for their families and friends, we are at the same time, our- 
selves, some of the greatest spongers on their hospitality, and 
when our carelessness and extravagance has embarrassed our 
circumstances, the first to apply to them for help. Here wo 
met with that remarkable man and consistent Quaker preacher 
Thomas Titus, and although nearly ninety years of age, he 
appeared to shine as a fixed star in the firmament of God's 
power. He was there on a visit and weather-bound. We were 
mutually glad to see each other, for I loved him as a father, 
and he embraced me as a son. I said, remarkable man, for 
he and his truly pious wife have lived together for more than 
sixty years, and she never really sick ; but feeling a fear that 
she should not be able to sustain sickness unto death, with 
Christian patience, fervently prayed she might die easy, which 
was graciously granted, and she went oif apparently in a sweet 
sleep, without suffering a pang, and if I am not mistaken, his 
own case was very similar. He was further remarkable for 
being beloved by every body. 

Next morning we parted with this excellent old man, and 
the worthy family that had made us so welcome and comforta- 
ble, and pursued our journey homeward, through the south- 



89 

western part of tlie State of New York, and the north-eastern 
part of New Jersey, and in four days I arrived safely at my 
own home, and found my family well, for which great favor, I 
trust, I felt a thankful heart. 

In about a month after, I left home again, to finish my visit; 
having my very dear friend, James Walton, for a companion. 
We went to Long Island, and visited all the meetings belong- 
ing to Westbury quarter, and had several appointed meetings 
particularly at Rockaway, near the sea, where there was no 
Friends' meeting. My distinguished kinsman, Elias Hicks, 
who had been with us at nearly all the meetings on the Island, 
and Samuel Parsons, a man conspicuous among Friends, and 
still more so amongst the Orthodox, with several other valua- 
ble Friends, were with us at this meeting. It was held at the 
house of my relative, Jacob Hicks. A hireling minister who 
lived eight or ten miles off, hearing that there was 
a preacher by the name of Hicks, who was not so hard on 
the priests as Elias, came to this meeting. He came late. I 
was speaking when he came in, and did not see him, or think 
of a priest being in the house. It is said I was led immedi- 
ately into an exposition of the text, or saying of the Saviour, 
that the publicans and harlots would go into the kingdom of 
Heaven before the priests and their satellites. 

Dear old Elias, who wrote me a great many letters, wrote 
me one about that time, in which he alluded to one of the 
principal causes of the division, as well as to the meeting at 
Rockaway. I will here insert an extract. ^^ My dear Edward 
Hicks : having thee often in remembrance of late, with feeling 
and affectionate sympathy, I was induced to take up my pen, 
and commence with thee in this way, especially since the re- 
turn of our mutual friend and kinsman, John Hicks, who in- 
formed me that he was favored with some of thy company on 
his way from his western journey, by whom I learned thou 
wast still on the alert, and closely exercised in guarding the 
frontiers from beasts of prey, or such as are seeking, by hid- 
den and indirect means, to make an inroad on the borders of 
Zion, and at some seasons the warfare rises so high as to re- 
semble fighting with beasts of Ephesus. This view of the 
subject corrresponds with my present allotment. Nay, more 
than beasts, or creatures that range in darkness, has thy poor 
Elias to struggle with, to wit : — false brethren : and still 



90 

worse yet, for had I nothing to war with but rational animals, 
that walk and work in darkness, and false brethren that walk 
and work behind the screen, all their force wonld scarcely in- 
terrupt my quiet; but there is another kind of troublers that 
are not easily described, but are comprehended among our 
weak and ignorant brethren, who know very little but what 
they have obtained through the medium of education and tra- 
dition, and being brought up in an orderly way, and possessed 
of but little vivacity, they are kept in an orderly walk ; this 
being agreeable to their common nature, and by which they 
make a goodly outside appearance, although they are nothing 
but flesh and blood without, so many of these are little else 
within. But as these keep up this natural orderly walk, they 
get oftentimes raised to eminent stations, such as overseers and 
ciders in society, without any qualification, but an orderly out- 
side appearance, and some of these grow wise in their own 
eyes,, which prevents them from seeing and knowing their own 
ignorance. These fixing themselves by tradition to a certain 
point, are immoveable, like the Scribes and Pharisees of old, 
and then if anything is opened that does not tally with their 
creed, let it be ever so great a truth, and clothed with the 
clearest demonstration, they immediately cry out against it as 
a new thing, a mere novelty, and conclude the author an here- 
tic ; and these place themselves in a situation not to be taught, 
for they have shut up the avenues through which they might 
be improved. Now one of these is more difficult to deal with 
than all the out-door walkers in darkness, compared to beasts 
of Ephesus, and the in-door false brethren, for the latter have dis- 
cretion enough to know when they are beaten and vanquished, 
but the others have not; yet their ignorance makes them ap- 
pear sincere, and that places them in an immoveable state, and 
although entirely incorrect, yet, in most cases, they seem 
placed beyond any means of remedy. To be clear of all such 
troubles, would be a real cause of rejoicing. 

"Some of us here away have found it our duty to endeavour 
to convince our Methodist bretheren and sisters, both within 
and without society, that Heaven and Hell are not at so great 
a distance as they imagine, and that they are not confined 
within walls or limits, but are every where present where there 
is either man or woman, who by their works have become 
fitted to enter either. For as Jesus tells us, who knew well 
what he said, that the kingdom of God was within us, so 



91 

when the soul enlists under his banner and gives God l 
the whole rule and government^ there that soul is in Heaven. I 
For Heaven is not a place so as to be distinct from another, \ 
but it is the real state and condition of the soul in which its \ 
heaven consists. So, on the contrary, if we will not suffer « 
this man to have the rule over us, like some formerly, but will \ 
cast him out and set up a kingdom of our own, which is the 
kingdom of Satan, and suffer the man of sin and son of per- 
dition to take the whole rule and government, there then 
is that soul in Hell, which is also a state and not a place. 

"But this some of our Methodist friends, in society as well 
as out of society, cannot admit, because it disappoints them, 
as Jesus did the Jews, when he took away their outward lo- 
cated Heaven, and put an end to all their noisy rejoicing. So 
these are very unwilling to give up all their noise and shout- 
ing, and all their hallelujahs, and glory, glory songs, and bar- 
ter them away for the peaceful abodes of Paradise, where all 
the delightful songs, and heavenly anthems of glory are heard 
and distinctly understood, through the unbounded regions of 
this holy and happy abode, without the least expression of a 
vocal whisper. 

"We had a very good meeting at Rockaway, when thou hadst 
to make an experiment by putting the hireling priests, and 
soldiers, and sailors in a bag, and shaking them, to see which 
would first come out. And indeed there is a great similarity 
between them, as they all fight and war for money, or pecuni- 
ary reward. Take away their wages, and they would all alike 
desert the cause. 

"In much love, to thee and thine, in which my wife and 
daughter E., joins, I rest thy affectionate friend, 

Elias Hicks.^^ 

Having been led to bring into view in a particular manner, 
my very dear friend, and record an extract from one of the 
many letters I received, it may be right in this place, to make 
a few remarks respecting him, more especially as he has been 
and still continues to be, the butt of Orthodox persecution. 

I will not pretend to say that Elias Hicks was entirely clear 
of those extremes to which eminent men are liable, in the 
heat of controversy, and the tenacious defence of some favorite 
speculations j if I did, I would set him above some of the 
greatest men that ever lived. The apostles themselves, though 



92 

strong and powerful in the Christian faith, had their weak 
side, and Tertullian, one of the highest stars in the second 
century, was led into a foolish extreme, by the fanatical no- 
tions of Montanus ; while Origen, acknowledged by all to be 
the brightest luminary of the third century, did immense 
mischief to the cause of primitive Christianity, by his extreme 
attachment to the Platonic philosophy, scholastic divinity and 
human learning. Therefore, it is among the possible circum- 
, stances that dear Elias was led to an extreme in the Unitarian 
1 speculation, while opposing the Trinitarian, then increasing 
j among Friends, and now almost established among our Ortho- 
I dox Friends. But I have no recollection of ever hearing him 
I in public testimony, and I have heard him much, when his 
I speculative views or manner of speaking, destroyed the savour 
= of life that attended his ministry, or gave me any uneasiness. 
But I have certainly heard to my sorrow, too many of his su- 
perficial admirers, that have tried to copy after him, pretend- 
ing to wear his crown, without knowing any thing of his 
cross, make use of the naked term, Jesus, both in public and 
private, till it sounded in my ears as unpleasant as if coming 
from the tongue of the profane swearer; and on the other 
hand, I have been pained to hear the unnecessary repetition of 
the terms, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, from those I 
verily believed Elias' s bitter enemies, especially the English 
preachers, and have scarcely a doubt that they were substan- 
tially breaking the third commandment. And I will now add 
my opinion fearlessly, that Elias was wrong in entering into 
that quibbling controversy with those weak Quakers, alluded 
to in his letter, about the marvellous conception and parentage 
of Christ, a delicate and inexplicable subject, that seems to 
have escaped the particular attention of what we call the darker 
ages, to disgrace the highest professors of the nineteenth cen- 
tury. But however wrong he might have been in this case, 
the conduct of his antagonist outraged every thing like the 
gentleman or the Christian, in furnishing his enemies with 
copies of his letters, after they had agreed mutually to disa- 
gree and quit writing, and honorably return to each their re- 
spective letters. Hence, the establishment of the charge 
against Elias Hicks, in the opinion of the Orthodox, that he 
denied the miraculous conception, which I shall endeavor to 
refute by the following testimony. I very well recollect, a 



f 



93 

short time after tlie controversy alluded to, I was walking with' 
Elias, in the time of the Yearly Meeting of New York, when 
he told me seriously and confidently hy ourselves, that he had 
never doubted the truth of the Scripture testimony, as record- 
ed hy Mathew and Luke, respecting the miraculous concep- 
tion; that he thought the figure would he incomplete without 
it, but that he had felt a freedom to try the foundation of such 
Friends, whose belief he suspected to be founded on mere tra- 
dition, because their superficial faith would be too easily over- 
turned by the subtile Deist. 

We may imagine and surmise different causes for the un- 
happy revolution among Friends, when the real and substan- 
tial cause is prefigured in the revolution that took place in 
Israel, in the time of Samuel the prophet, who was one of the 
beautiful types of the Son and sent of God, and who was Di- 
vinely commissioned to anoint Saul, a meek, humble young 
man, to be a king among the Lord's people, and the Lord was 
with him as a teacher, agreeably to his promise, ^^ The hum- 
ble he will teach of his ways, and the meek he will guide in 
the path of true judgment/^ Thus taught, Saul judged it 
right to exterminate all the witches and wizards, that deceived 
the people, out of the land. Such characters, probably as are 
now comprehended in the impostors, and deluded votaries of 
anti-Christ among the priests, psychologists, magnetizers, &c. 
This righteous act on the part of Saul, made him an object of 
love and respect among the people, and the silly women sung 
after him that he had slain his thousands. Listening with too 
much pleasure to their song, raised him a head and shoulders 
above his brethren, 'and being puffed up with pride and self- 
consequence, the Lord left him, and held no more communion 
with him, taking the kingdom from him to give it to David, 
who was meek and lowly of mind. Thus left, Saul became 
the victim of malevolent passions, jealousy, envy and supersti- 
tion, which now being added to his pride, prepared him for 
acts of violence, weakness and deception. Hence, his repeat- 
ed attempts to kill his innocent rival, and final application for 
instruction to the witch of Endor. 

I am aware that some of the wi^e of this world, but I can- 
not say prudent, have manifested a disposition to turn this 
passage of Scripture into ridicule, while to me, it is fall of in- 
struction, which I shall endeavor, with Divine assistance 



94 

to give in its application, to the subject now under considera- 
tion. 

The analogy between Israel of old, under the outward 
law covenant, and the Israel of God, under the inward gos- 
pel covenant, should ever be kept in view by the Christian. 
The first was a national community of corporeal beings, 
with an outward law and ceremonies, outward rewards 
and punishments, an outward land of promise, and an out- 
ward Saviour, which was the glorious manifestation of God 
in the flesh. The second is a communion of rational 
immortal souls, created in the image of God, of all nations, 
kindreds, and tongues, and people, with a spiritual law, writ- 
ten in the heart, and placed in the inward part; spiritual 
rewards and punishments, a spiritual land of promise, and a 
spiritual Saviour, even the eternal word, that was ^'in the be- 
ginning with God, and is God over all, blessed for ever.'^ 
This is the church of Christ, the Christian church, militant 
on earth. Such of its members as are designed for kings and 
priests unto God, are especially anointed with the holy oil, 
and thus prepared to be messengers of glad tidings, that will 
bind up the broken heart, and proclaim liberty to the captive 
soul; and as the terms messenger, and angel, in this sense are 
synonymous, so they are commissioned and sent as Christ's 
angels, to gather his elect from the four winds under Heaven. 
These were, and still continue to be, the light of the world, 
a light that cannot be hid under a bushel. These will become 
more or less distinguished, according to their gifts, and con- 
sequently more or less the objects of adoration and praise, 
which, if they listen to, and are pleased with, like Saul with 
the singing of the women, they lose that humility and meek- 
ness, inseparably connected with the holy anointing, and fall 
from heavenly places in Christ Jesus, and, like Saul, become 
the slaves to jealousy, envy, and hatred. But in order to keep 
up their honor among the people as preachers, they apply to 
the anti-type of the witch of Endor, that cursed serpentine 
self, that has been playing the harlot, though adorned with 
Christ's jewels, which completes the deception, while it feeds 
them with the beast that was like unto a calf, and ends in 
self-condemnation and destruction. These are fallen angels, 
and, if they do not, in the depths of humility and self-abase- 
ment, apply to Christ to restore them to Heaven, they are 



95 

in a fair way to "become devils incarnate, tliat cannot escape 
the damnation of liell. Hence tlie propriety of the Saviour's 
severe strictures upon the priests, and hence too we may un- 
derstand the reason why ministers are the authors of those 
hitter contests, and unintelligible wranglings, that have been 
a disgrace to the Christian religion. 

Now I greatly fear that there have been, and still are, too 
many such ministers among Friends, and that this has been 
the principal cause of the late unhappy if not disgraceful 
separation. Had some of us only known, what we might have 
known had we dwelt in the light, that the little popularity 
with which we were so mightily pleased was of a mushroom 
character, '■'■ raised without merit,'' it might then have been 
"■ lost without crime," and our standing in society like water 
would have soon found its level. But the silly women con- 
tinuing to sing after some of us, we felt very comfortable till 
the music was devoted to the praise of Elias, and the song to 
him become much louder and longer ; then, like Saul, we 
began to throw our javelins, and the women seeing what was 
self-evident, that Elias was not only a greater preacher than 
the rest of us, and that he did (what is a rare thing among us) 
practice his own doctrine, continued to sing; and Saul and 
Abner tried to comfort themselves for a while with the assu- 
rance that his followers were few, and like the three hundred 
that went after David, were poor men ; that they could not 
pay their debts, and that their scolding wives made them un- 
happy at home. Yet this was the beginning of one of the 
most important revolutions in Israel, and of the reorganization 
of the government on more substantial premises, while Saul 
fell upon his own sword on Mount Gilboa, and Abner by the 
hand of Joab, with this lamentation, ^^ Shall the sword devour 
for ever ? know thou it will be bitterness in the latter end.'' 
Oh ! that the Sauls, Abners, and Joabs, among the belligerents 
in the Society of Friends, would learn heavenly wisdom before 
it is too late, and obey the command of the blessed Saviour, 
^^ Put up thy sword into its sheath, for they that take the 
sword shall perish with the sword." 

I will now try again to return from my eccentric course to 
the path I intended to have kept to. My dear friend James 
Walton having left me in New York to return home, my kins- 
man Yalentine Hicks joined me in a visit to Purchase Quarter, 



96 

and we attended all the meetings I believe to tlie satisfaction 
of Friends, and others that attended; but all I can remember 
iS; the meetings were large, and I suffered with sickness. 

I think it was at the Yearly Meeting this year that the 
great effort was made to establish that ecclesiastical head of 
aristocracy, that ruined the Christian republic in the second 
century ; and the analogy is so striking, and the coincidence 
so remarkable, it may be right for me to give a concise 
statement. 

About the year 170, if I am not mistaken, the seven 
churches in Asia were independent of each other, governed by 
their own discipline, and only bound together by the unity of 
the spirit in the bond of peace, when a proposition was made 
originating with some of the Grecian bishops — a scripture 
term for overseers — and mostly senior ministers, to establish 
this great head, which was called by them a synqd, but by the 
Latins, a council. It was to be composed of delegates from all 
the seven chui'ches. It was ingeniously proposed and carried 
through, as such innovations generally are, by chicanery and 
cunning; for when opposition to influential characters is 
attended with danger, the timid are too often silent, the mul- 
titude believe and imposture triumphs. 

About the year 170 of the Society of Friends, as an organ- 
ized body of Christians, raised for the special purpose of revi- 
ving and preserving primitive Christianity, both as respects 
doctrine and discipline, the same proposition was made to the 
seven Yearly Meetings on the continent of America, by senior 
ministers, two of whom were remarkable for their sophistical 
eloquence, and throwing their javelins, like Saul, at such as 
they considered rivals. 

When this proposition was made to our Yearly Meeting, by 
the two ministers last alluded to, the timid saw the danger 
but were silent, and the multitude were about believing, when 
one of the most imprudent junior ministers arose and addressed 
the meeting in substance as follows, " If the proposition to 
establish this head of aristocracy is united with by this meet- 
ing, it will ruin the Society of Friends. ^ A people that the 
Lord Almighty has raised by his own invincible power and 
signally placed his name amongst them,^ will then ' become 
only the transient glory of a couple of centuries,^ when it was 
designed in the councils of infinite wisdom they should ' be 



97 

the joy of the whole earth/ Then the only repository of that 
primitive repuhlicanism laid down in the heavenly doctrine of 
Jesus Christ, and embraced in their simple hut evangelical 
discipline, will fall into that vortex of anti-christianity that 
has engulphed all other reformers from the church of Rome. 
I am therefore decidedly opposed to the proposition, and sin- 
cerely wish Friends to make a solemn pause before they ap- 
proach any nearer the crumbling brink of ruin/^ These 
remarks, though expressed in a rough, incoherent manner, 
forming a striking contrast with the foregoing speakers, 
arrested the current in favor of the proposition, and alarmed 
its distinguished advocates, who immediately had recourse to 
one of those political manoeuvres that too often characterize 
the eloquent orator and cunning artificer, when determined to 
force conviction in favor of some favorite scheme. Hence an 
appeal to the sympathies of the people, in the most persuasive 
eloquence, expressing a hope that the meeting would now see 
more clearly the importance of the salutory restraints contem- 
plated in the proposition, and a joy was expressed, that the 
day had dawned when the Society of Friends would be pre- 
pared to unite with a concern that had for its object the proper 
appreciation of age and experience, and the establishment of 
the authority of the church upon a firm and substantial foun- 
dation. The imprudent Friend, who by this time might have 
been thought rather impotent by some, replied in substance 
that he was difi"erently circumstanced from the Friends who 
had last spoken, that while they hoped he feared, and whilst 
they rejoiced he sorrowed. He feared that if the spirit that 
had dictated this proposition should gain the ascendancy 
among Friends, it might be productive of more immediate suf- 
fering than it produced in the primitive church, when it 
opened a door by which the enemy entered, and made great 
devastation in the flock and family of God. For under the 
benign influence of the mild and generous government of the 
United States, Friends, as American citizens, are tenacious of 
their civil and religious rights, and will not, like the poor 
Friends in Ireland, sufier them to be trampled under foot with 
impunity. Hence a division in Jacob and a scattering in 
Israel must ensue. He sorrowed at the affecting scene that 
would be likely to follow, when husbands and wives, parents 
and children, brethren and sisters, must be separated ; and the 

9 



98 

nearest and dearest friends turned into the most implacable 
enemies^ and the exclamation of the world's people, respecting 
the people called Quakers, entirely changed, ''See these 
Quakers how they hate one another." 

I will not pretend to say that these were the identical words 
which were spoken, I only come as near as I can recollect. 

The proposition was not united with by Philadelphia Yearly 
Meeting, and, if I am not mistaken, New York, Ohio, and 
Baltimore rejected it. Thus the principal head of the beast, 
that the beloved John saw in heavenly visions, come up out 
of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, received a 
wound, or was rejected for that time, by the society of Friends 
in America. But the wound that this head received, did not 
appear to be of a deadly character. It was soon healed, for it 
was found rearing itself again, in our Meeting for Sufferings, 
in the form of a creed, which being likewise rejected by our 
Yearly Meeting, the beast assumed its leopard appearance — 
for we must remember that the beast which John saw, was 
like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the paws of a bear, 
and his mouth as the mouth of a lion — hence the variety and 
beauty of our theological writings, and verbal arguments, in 
the form of sermons; our increasing restless state, with the 
carnivorous cruelty of the leopard ; while the discipline was 
laid hold of as a sword, and wielded with all the weight of the 
paw of the bear, and the redoubtable English lion thundered 
out its excommunications against Elias Hicks, Edward Sta- 
bler, John Comly, and others, though more than one half of 
the Society went with the latter. 

Can any one acquainted with the history of the Church, 
question the propriety of the view I have taken, in relation to 
the synod, or council established over the seven Churches in 
Asia, being the principal head of the beast that John saw rise 
out of the sea of confusion and darkness. If any do, I refer 
them to the spirit and conduct of the council of Nice in 325, 
the council of Alexandria in 430, and the council of Ephesus 
in 431. Mosheim himself, although a prejudiced priest, has 
to acknowledge that the transactions of these councils will ap- 
pear to the candid and equitable reader, in the most unfavora- 
ble light, as full of low artifice, contrary to all the rules of 
justice, and even destitute of the least share of common decen- 
cy. Such, then, was the head or aristocracy, established in 



99 

the one Titindred and seventieth year of the primitive churcli^ 
that sapped tlie foundation of all its republican principles, and 
opened a wide door to the spirit of apostacy. And I verily be- 
lieve the same evil genius was embraced in the proposition 
offered or made to the Society of Friends, on the continent of 
America, about the year one hundred and seventy of their ex- 
istence as an organized body. Is not the coincidence remarka- 
ble ? I do not wish to be understood as casting reflections 
upon those Friends who verily thought they were doing God 
service ; I trust they were a« sincere as Saul of Tarsus, and I 
only wish, like Saul — or Paul — they may pray to that Saviour 
who has pricked their consciences, and thus witness the scales 
to be removed from their eyes. 

At a Quarterly Meeting of ministers and elders, held at 
Buckingham, I had the first clear view of the policy and man- 
agement of those Friends who were about turning the two 
great committees of care, that were to preside over the con- 
cerns of society, during the recesses of the Yearly Meeting, 
into this head of aristocracy. It came out in a discussion that 
took place about a minister recommended by Buckingham 
Monthly Meeting. A wealthy, and of course respectable, 
elder, said he thought the time was at hand when a Monthly 
Meeting would have no more business with recommending a 
minister, than a Preparative Meeting had with the business of 
a Monthly Meeting. That is, they would only bring forward 
the name, and the Quarterly Meeting of ministers and elders 
would recommend or acknowledge the minister. 

I thought I saw clearly now, what was going on ; or if I may 
be permitted to make a parody of a part of one of the prophet 
EzekieFs visions — I had seen something like the image of 
jealousy, that provoked to jealousy. I had met it several times 
in the entry, and I now saw, I thought, through something like 
a hole in the wall, what the ancients of Israel were doing in 
the dark, notwithstanding the thick black cloud that seemed to 
rest upon them. And, subsequently, I think I have seen the 
other abominations spoken of by the Lord's prophet. I have 
seen the womanish weakness of our society, quarrelling, fret- 
ting, and weeping, about they know not what. I have seen 
ministers and elders of a religious society, whose distinguish- 
ing doctrine is the supremacy and pre-eminence of internal 
over external evidence, turn their backs upon the Lord's tern- 



100 

pie and altar, within them, and set with their faces towards 
the East, worshipping the greatest luminary in the first and 
second heavens, the scriptures of truth, that never were nor 
never will be the primary rule of faith and practice, to a real 
substantial Quaker. 

I return again to Buckingham Quarterly Meeting of minis- 
ters and elders, and the democratic remarks I made in reply to 
the respectable and wealthy aristocrat, which offended him 
sadly. After meeting I went to speak to him, not thinking 
how I had hurt him, and was perfectly astonished to find him 
in something like an hysteric fit. His countenance was pale 
and distorted, and showed evident marks of great excitement ; 
exposing him much to his disadvantage. I told him I did not 
desire to offend him, and was very sorry ; but he would not 
be satisfied with such acknowledgement. So I had to leave 
him, with a heavy heart, and seek relief from one of our oldest 
elders, who told me that he did not think I had said any thing 
that ought to give him offence, and that if it pinched him, let 
him bear it. This man never forgave me, I fear, until he came 
on his death bed ; when I have reason to believe he did, and I 
hope to meet his glorified spirit, where angry passions cease to 
trouble, and the tossed and weary soul is forever at rest. The 
next day he came to me and acknowledged that he was wrong, 
in suffering himself to get in such a passion, but that I was 
wrong also. 

After what I had seen, I felt it my religious duty to lay be- 
fore the next Quarterly Meeting, held at the Falls, a proposi- 
tion, that that meeting should request the Yearly Meeting to 
institute a strict and serious enquiry into the standing of the 
Meeting for Sufferings ; for there was reason to fear that it was 
becoming a dangerous aristocracy. From this time some 
Friends considered me as a suspicious, if not a dangerous cha- 
racter, and the respectable elder that I offended at the select 
meeting at Buckingham, called on me ; and I have no doubt 
it was well for me, and him, too, I was not at home, for when 
men that are constitutionally choleric, turbulent, and haughty, 
meet under excitement, they mostly make bad worse. 

I think it was in the winter following, that I was engaged 
with other Friends, in visiting the families of our Monthly 
Meeting, and while from home on this service, my shop was 
burned down, with all its contents, and, in a few days after- 



101 



wards, I was taken sick, and perhaps I was brought the near- 
est to the gates of death, I ever was. I very imprudently 
continued with Friends in the service, a day or two, with a 
chill and fever, and the last house I went into, I fainted as 
soon as I entered the door, and for six or eight days I was 
delirious. The friend of the house, being skilful, bled me im- 
mediately, and at the same time sent about five miles for our 
family physician, and my wife. My dear adopted sister, Beu- 
lah E. Twining, brought my wife in her carriage, and my dear 
son Isaac, then a boy of eight or nine, begging so to come 
along, they brought him also. Doctor Plumly was a man who 
was considered very skilful, but quite an enthusiast, pro- 
nouncing from the first my case desperate and incurable, and 
I believe always said, as long as he lived, that I was raised by 
a miracle, for some special purpose. 

The only thing I remember at the friend's house, was my 
son sitting, holding my head and weeping. Next day they 
brought me home, in a carriage, and I can remember hearing 
the wheels on the bridge, and I faintly remember when they 
carried me into my own house. I am afraid I shall be tedi- 
ously particular, because of something that was thought by 
some rather remarkable. During my delirium I spoke of the 
rotten state of a certain Bank whose credit then stood very 
high. One of my physicians being a director of said bank, 
was made to marvel a little at my saying I saw men secretly 
at work in the dark, and some of them with plain coats on, in 
a fraudulent and clandestine manner, which must end in the 
failure of the institution. But it was still more marvellous, 
that this prophecy in a delirium should be fulfilled in less than 
a year, by the disgraceful bankruptcy of that anti-christian 
nursery of usury. 

Credulity and superstition are disposed to make mighty won- 
ders of such circumstances, when this, as well as many others, 
may be explained on rational principles. The cashier of this 
bank died a short time before I was taken sick, and sent for 
me, about ten miles, the night before he died. I found him 
nearly gone, but he could speak so as to be understood to be 
concerned about the bank. But feeling it my duty to hold up 
something of more importance to him — salvation through 
Jesus Christ the only Saviour — I discouraged his concern 
about the bank, and he said no more. But after his death, I 

9* 



102 

could not help thinking that there might he something wrong 
ahout the bank, that he wished to disclose to me as a particu- 
lar friend. With these impressions I was taken sick, and it 
appears reasonable that I would express in my delirium some- 
thing about it. 

When I came to myself I remember I was very much con- 
cerned for fear I had made use of profane language, having 
been once a profane swearer, and was truly thankful when I 
was told I did not. 

I cannot feel altogether easy to omit a little matter, that is 
of great importance to me. One of my daughters, about 7 or 
8 years of age, seeing and feeling the distress manifested by 
her mother and elder sisters, would go aside with her Bible, 
and read, and no doubt pray. She would then come to them 
and say, I think father will get well, for when I am reading- 
there is something seems to tell me so. 0, that dear children 
could be more encouraged to read the Scriptures and pray, for 
the fervent effectual prayer availeth much. 

About this time I had been visiting the meetings in Phila- 
delphia. On First days I remember they were very large, the 
houses could not contain the people, owing to the excitement 
and unsettled state of society, and not to my preaching. But 
I understood they manifested great concern for me, during my 
sickness, and I am certainly under obligations to many dear 
friends in that city, for their great kindness to me, a poor un- 
worthy brother, and indeed the interest, attention, and kind- 
ness of my neighbors, rich and poor, still makes my heart 
overflow with gratitude. 

In the spring of 1822, I visited the meetings and some of 
the families of friends of Baltimore, and tried to reconcile or 
settle a difficulty that had arisen among them about their grave 
yard, but found that the strong man armed was not to be 
bound, or cast out, but by a strength that I did not possess. 
I therefore had to give it up. 

I thought Friends manifested a weak, unsettled state, by 
running after a popular English clergyman, and joining him 
in Bible Societies, and so forth. Being led to speak against 
Ephraim's idols, I gave offence, and received an unfriendly 
letter from a female elder, who afterwards acknowledged to 
me that she was wrong. Nevertheless, I found many valuable 
friends in that city, at the head of which I placed that happy 



,/^ Y \^^^K_e.yu|^ 



103 

compound of the gentleman and the Christian, Evan Thomas; 
a prince in our Israel, and a pillar in the Lord's house that 
went no more out. 

On my return from Baltimore, having a companion, our lives 
appeared to be in great jeopardy, by the steamboat coming in 
contact with a schooner in the dark, about ten o'clock at night, 
and at the widest part of Chesapeake Bay. The concussion 
was tremendous, and the alarm and confusion awful. The 
captain of the steamboat was a prudent man, having his lights 
burning, and shewed great presence of mind, and kindness to 
the captain and crew of the schooner, who appeared to have 
been asleep, having no light. I can never forget the passion- 
ate and affecting prayer of the captain of the schooner, and my 
sorrowful impressions, when I heard his son, about two and 
twenty years old, was drowned. The principal injury our boat 
received was the loss of six or seven paddles out of one of the 
wheels, which, retarding our progress, we did not arrive at the 
place of destination till daylight. Our horse and chair being 
on board, we proceeded on our journey, by the way of Wil- 
mington, to Philadelphia. 

At New York Yearly Meeting in 1822 I sat near Gc. W., a 
minister from England, who manifested a sociable familiarity, 
and expressed a wish for a further acquaintance with me, in- 
viting me to dine with him, but I thought it best to avoid a 
particular interview, fearing that his blunt honesty of expres- 
sion and my hot-headed Americanism coming in contact might 
make bad worse. 

I have no recollection of any thing particular occurring at 
this Yearly Meeting, yet it must have been obvious to a serious 
observer of the signs of the times, that there were too many 
Friends like recruiting officers, trying to enlist soldiers, to 
strengthen their respective armies, and perhaps it was at this 
meeting, that Joseph Whitall took the bounty, and enrolled 
himself among the enemies of Elias Hicks and his friends; and 
his faithfulness in serving his party has been such that his 
name ought to be handed down to posterity. 

I will here relate a circumstance touching my dear old friend 
Elias that perhaps is but little known. It was told to me by 
our cousin Willet Hicks, and goes to show that the exercises, 
trials, and sufferings of great and good men, have been some- 
what similar in all ages. The prophet Elijah was brought into 



104 

serious exercise, trial, and suffering, when pursued by a com- 
bined force, consisting of the friends of false prophets, and 
apostate Israelites, led on by an extremely wicked woman. 
Strong and powerful as this good man had been, when wielding 
the sword of the Lord among Jezebel's mercenary hirelings, 
clear as was the ocular demonstration of divine power when he 
called down fire from heaven on the Lord's altar, conclusively 
convincing the true Israelites that God was on their side, he 
was comparatively weak when he sat under the juniper tree, in 
the wilderness, requesting to die, saying, " It is enough, now 
O Lord take away my life, for I am no better than my 
fathers." Quite similar was the situation of Elias Hicks, after 
a select quarterly meeting held at Westbury, as related by 
Willet, who said in substance, that he got information in New 
York, that a number of Elias's old friends had combined with 
the English, and perhaps led on by the redoubtable A. B , in- 
tended to make a formidable attack on him, at the quarterly 
meeting of ministers and elders next held at Westbury. The 
day before said meeting he went up to Jericho, and told Elias 
what he might expect. But the old man was not willing to 
believe him; could not think it possible that these friends, with 
whom he had had such sweet union and communion from his 
youth, should now turn against him. In the morning Willet 
said he told Elias's wife, who was an elder, that he wished her 
to go to meeting with some other friends, as he intended to 
take Elias in his carriage. At meeting his enemies appeared 
in battle array, as Willet had predicted, and as Elias never 
turned his back upon an enemy, something like a drawn battle 
was fought, when, as it often happens, especially in religious 
contests, both sides claimed the victory. Be it as it may, Elias 
was wounded, and as soon as he got in the carriage and the 
glasses were put up, he threw himself back and wept like a 
child, uttering a language like that of the Lord's prophet. I 
trust he was comforted, as Elijah was, by an holy angel. In 
his cousin Willet, at least, he found a steady sympathising friend. 
On the next day in the general quarterly meeting he appeared 
strong in the Lord. 

Having exceeded the bounds I had prescribed, I must hasten 
to a close, and pass over many things that might be interesting 
to some, only mentioning such circumstances as seem connected 
with the separation in society. 



105 

A minister I have alluded to, in speaking of the party that 
was formed against me in Middletown Preparative Meeting of 
ministers and elders, now removed to another State, was visit- 
ing our meeting on the morning of the day of our Monthly 
Meeting, held at Makefield. Not knowing that a stranger was 
to be there, I was exceedingly worried with pretty texts of 
scripture that I might preach upon. I say worried, because I 
consider it a temptation, the activity and contrivance of the 
woman to be thinking and preparing pretty passages of scrip- 
ture ; and should a concern be got up to preach in this way, it 
would prove to be only a mock gospel. 

When the minister had got through his service, I spoke in 
substance as follows, after alluding to my temptations on the 
way, " that I considered the Quaker preacher that brought his 
text from the Bible with him to meeting, made up to preach 
from, was worse than the hireling who brought his studied ser- 
mon, because he was a hypocrite.'^ After the meeting had 
proceeded to business, the minister rose, and informed the 
meeting that the reason why he had not brought a minute, was 
owing to a mistake of the clerk, and then went on to speak of 
the severe attack that had been made upon him. When he sat 
down, our dear friend William Taylor, whose name I shall 
always refer to with love and respect, spoke in substance as 
follows, " that the Friend need not make himself uneasy about 
not having a minute, that he was glad, he was with us." I 
united with my friend William, and we passed on quietly. 
When meeting broke, one of our elders came to me and ex- 
pressed his astonishment that the minister should have taken 
oflfence at what I had said, for he should never have thought of 
such a thing, had he not fastened it on himself. Another 
elder, who was better acquainted, said he had expected he would 
kick. I was told afterwards that a nephew of this minister 
said he could always tell what his uncle was going to preach if 
he could only look over his shoulder whilst reading the Bible, 
before he went to meeting, and I have little doubt that he 
brought his text if not his sermon with him that morning. 

Notwithstanding I was a silent, and sometimes sorrowful 
observer of the affecting scene, I was at times a little amused 
at the art and ingenuity of our English ministers, in trying to 
fasten on Elias and his friends the denunciations* embraced in 
Peter's prophecy of the rise and progress of priestcraft. See 



106 

2d Peter, chap. 1, ver. 1, 2, 3. This favorite text they would 
apply to Elias Hicks and his friends with great dexterity, 
while they pronounced the words "damnation'^ and ^destruc- 
tion ^' with the violence of an inquisitor. 

Ann and George Jones, with a strong force of Orthodox 
Friends from Philadelphia, attended our quarterly meeting 
held at Middletown, bearing down apparently every thing he- 
fore them. I remember they threw out of our select meeting 
a recommendation of a minister from Buckingham Monthly 
Meeting, and one of the orthodox ministers exultingly declared 
that he saw Satan falling as a star from Heaven. The general 
quarterly meeting endorsed their satisfaction with the company 
of G-eorge and Ann Jones, with but one dissenting voice, and 
that honest Friend, as Willet Hicks called him, was John 
Miller, Jr., a Friend that ought to be remembered and re- 
spected by Bucks quarter for his steady, consistent and un- 
flinching faithfulness. He boldly informed the meeting that 
he had no unity with the company nor labors of Ann Jones. 

The signs of the times, as respects the Society of Friends^ 
were now of a serious character. Their Jerusalem was no 
longer a quiet habitation, and their tabernacle was falling 
down ; their cords were growing loose, and their stakes about 
to be removed, and where the glorious Lord had appeared to 
them, as a place of broad rivers and streams, the gallant ships 
and gallies with oars kept up a confused noise of war. 

The English Friends spread themselves over the continent, 
and wherever they went they separated husbands and wives, 
parents and children, brothers and sisters, and the nearest and 
dearest friends. And I think I may add with safety, that in 
Philadelphia Yearly Meeting the division was so far antici- 
pated, that the ecclesiastical machinery for disowning which 
had operated so successfully on poor Friends in Ireland, was 
transported to America, either to be set in operation here, or 
to be a pattern for a new machine that might better suit this 
country. Lawyers were feed, and civil officers employed. 
Such appears now to have been the movements, especially of 
Orthodox Friends, preparatory to the expected struggle at the 
Yearly Meeting of 1827. 

In the latter part of the second month of this year, John 
Comly came to see me. I had just received an anonymous 
letter, wherein the writer mentioned that he had dreamed that 



107 

lie was in a very large field, which had been planted with corn 
that had come up, and grown some six or eight inches, but a 
severe frost had come on it, and it was wilting down. In this 
large field he thought he saw me very industriously at work, 
trying to hold up the corn or make it stand straight. He said 
he thought in his dream it was such a pity for me to be spend- 
ing my time to no good purpose, that he tried to persuade me 
to give it up and leave the field. But he said he thought I 
answered, I was determined not to leave the field until I tried 
to gave some of the corn. This is as near as I can remember 
the substance of the letter which I afterwards found was 
written by a singular man, and a man of learning, not a mem- 
ber of our society. This letter I shewed to John Comly, 
when he remarked in substance, that the letter appeared to be 
significant, and might bear a construction of some importance. 
However, there was one thing appeared to him certain, that 
society was in danger of being scattered, and that something 
ought to be done immediately to preserve and keep us togeth- 
er, and that he wished to consult with some friends, as to the 
proper steps to be taken, for if he was not mistaken, the next 
Yearly Meeting would be an eventful, if not an awful time. 
That he had no idea that it would be best to contend much 
with the party that seemed determined to rule, and bear down 
every thing before them, but to prepare for a peaceable and 
quiet retreat. 

Finding that John was under great discouragement, I 
thought to cheer him up a little, by telling him that he re- 
minded me of Lucian in the Roman Senate, when Cgesar, with 
a powerful army, was approaching Rome to destroy 
the last vestige of the republic; referring to the dread- 
ful struggle that they had made for liberty, and the ter- 
rible destruction of the lives of men, '^ he confessed^ his 
thoughts were turned on peace, and it was time to sheathe the 
sword and spare mankind ; that it was not C^sar but the 
Gods he feared.'' And while I certainly ought to prefer the 
peaceful and Christian-like spirit of John Comly, I was too 
much like Semphronius, another Senator, whose voice was 
still for war. 

A day or two after this, Bucks Quarterly Meeting was held 
at Wrightstown, at which was Elizabeth Robson, and, of 
course, a number of her Orthodox friends. I have norecol- 



108 

lection of what she said. I only know that the meeting would 
not endorse her certificate^ and that I made what the Ortho- 
dox called a flaming speech, consisting of false statements and 
downright lies, and in substance was as follows : ^^From the 
best information I am in possession of, Friends are on the de- 
cline in England, and there must be a cause for this effect. 
That if I was not mistaken in my information, there was, at 
the close of the seventeenth and the beginning of the eighteenth 
centuries, seven hundred meetings of Friends in England, Ire- 
land, Scotland and Wales, and now they would scarcely num- 
ber four hundred, and many of them are mere skeletons, as is 
abundantly confirmed by Samuel Smith and Sarah Harrison. 
Samuel says he was at two Quarterly Meetings, one of them 
consisted of twelve men and boys, and the other of eight; and 
Sarah speaks of one still less. Now there must be a cause for 
this sorrowful effect, and if I am not mistaken the cause em- 
anated from the British hierarchy, that dark, strong hold of 
anti-Christ, whose deluded votaries, like Balac, taught the chil- 
dren of Israel to partake of things sacrificed to idols, joining 
Bible societies. Missionary societies, and other popular institu- 
tions set up in the self-will of man; in consequence of which 
I fear there has been a decline in our religious meetings in 
the kingdom of England, at the ratio of more than two meet- 
ings a year, for the last hundred years. And happy would it 
have been for Friends in America, could that evil genius that 
is producing such sad effects, have been kept on the 
other side of the Atlantic. But alas! it has not only landed 
on our shores, but found a residence in our populous cities, 
where there is fulness of bread and abundance of idleness, 
and if I am not mistaken in my impressions, is now forming 
in the dark a piece of ecclesiastical machinery, which, if suf- 
fered to go into full operation, will sap the foundations of our 
religious liberty. Let then the descendants of the worthy 
companions of the excellent William Penn, stand firm as 
Christian soldiers in defence of the sacred boon, religious li- 
berty, purchased at the expense of the blood and sufferings of 
their honorable progenitors.^^ Such was the substance, if not 
the very words, that were spoken, which offended the Orthodox, 
and alarmed my dear friend John Comly. 

Next day Elizabeth Robson had an appointed meeting at New- 
ton, which was attended by a number of her friends. After 



109 

meeting, I went and spoke to her, and something like the fol-' 
lowing conversation took place. I said, '^ Will Elizabeth Rob- 
son go^home with Edward Hicks and take some dinner?" She 
replied, " I understand Edward Hicks is very much opposed to 
English Friends." I answered, ^' Edward Hicks professes to 
be a Christian, and consequently, ought to be a gentleman, and 
treat English as well as American Friends kindly, especially at 
his own house ; come and see.'' She replied, " If Edward 
Hicks professes to be a Christian and a gentlemen, I confess I 
am at a loss to reconcile his false statements yesterday." I said, 
if she would convince me that I had made statements which 
were not true, I would make a public acknowledgment, but 
until she had done so, I must be indulged in believing I was 
correct. Christopher Healy said, he did not see how I could 
make any acknowledgment that would satisfy Friends, for my 
false declaration was made in so large a Quarterly Meeting. 
Elizabeth said, that one thing I said was undoubtedly false ; 
that Friends in England were members of missionary societies. 
I asked her if they were not members of Bible societies ? She 
said they were, and she gloried in it. I then told her, that I 
had always understood that those two societies were so insepa- 
rably connected, that to be directly a member of one, would be 
indirectly a member of the other; for the one furnished the 
books, and the other the men to spread them abroad. Eliza- 
beth said there was- another statement which I made that was 
not true ; I said Friends in England were on the decline^ I 
told her if I was wrong in that statement, I was indebted to 
her countryman, Thomas Clarkson, for the mistake, for I un- 
derstood him to say that Friends in England were on the de- 
cline, and he was sorry for it. When Elizabeth seemed dis- 
posed to doubt my word, I told her I would bring the book and 
she might see for hrself. Her friend seemed willing now to 
end the controversy by taking her away. 

I do not entertain a hard feeling towards Elizabeth Eobson, 
and am far from wishing to charge her with acting unlady-like. 
She no doubt believed she was right, but was deficient in infor- 
mation. 

Her companion, Bartholomew Wister, was not so fortunate 
in his disposition, but like Peter, (considering me as an enemy 
to the outward person of the Saviour,) he waxed wroth and 
tried to cut off my right ear, or in other words, destroy my 

y 



no 

character as a man of truth; saying at the time, as he stood be- 
hind me in a supercilious, sneering manner, '^ there, don't lie,'* 
"dont lie ;'' and afterwards posted me as a public liar. But I 
humbly trust that, like Peter, he was reproved by the Prince of 
Peace, and ordered to put up that sword he then wielded, in its 
sheath, and is now with Peter in the mansions of everlasting 
light and love. 

B. W. was the son of dear John Wister, of Salem, N. J., a 
prince and father in our Israel, and an elder worthy of double 
honor. 

John Comly, having no hope left of the preservation of our 
Yearly Meeting from being scattered and peeled, but according 
to his peaceable plan, pursued his prospect as truth opened the 
way, he being a minister in good esteem, and was no doubt 
the instrument made use of by the head of the Church, to se- 
cure that peaceable retreat and re-organization that saved the 
great body of Friends, constituting the Yearly Meeting of 
Philadelphia, from being scattered to the four icinds of heaven ; 
and however abused and misrepresented he may be by the 
Orthodox party, if ever truth triumphs over delusion, his name . 
will stand upon the pages of the history of the Society of 
Friends, inseparably connected with the blessing of the peace- 
maker. Meanwhile the English and royal Americans — among 
whom the names of Jonathan Evans and Samuel Bettle should 
stand conspicuous- — were pursuing a policy as cold and as cruel 
as the British cabinet or administration of 1775, when that 
illustrious statesman, William Pitt, charged them with ex- 
tending their cold cunning traffic to the shambles of the Ger- 
man despot, and cruelly hiring the merciless Indians to set 
them as bloodhounds on their Protestant brethren, endeared to 
them by every tie that could sanctify humanity. So these 
English and American Quakers, I fear, were trafficking the 
funds of society, for the services of the most distinguished law- 
yers — those ravens who will croak the loudest for those who 
can give them the most of their favorite food, money. These 
hirelings, together with the hireling priests, that I shall allego- 
rically call the bloodhounds of religious persecution, appear to 
be the formidable auxiliaries, employed by Orthodox FriendS; 
to prosecute and persecute their Quaker brethren and sisters, 
endeared to them by every tie that ought to bind together the 
professors of Christianity. 



Ill 



Tlie eventful and afflictive Yearly Meeting of 1827 arrived, 
and although I had been opposed to any thing that might lead 
to a division in society, still hoping there was unity enough in 
the meeting to preserve it^ I saw on the first sitting of the 
meeting of ministers and elders, to my great sorrow, that it was 
a hopeless case, and told John Comly so immediately after the 
meeting adjourned. 

I will now quote that powerful ecclesiastical historian, John 
Lawrence Mosheim. '' The prelate that ruled the see of Alex- 
andria at this time was Cyril, a man of a haughty, turbulent, 
and imperious temper, and painfully jealous of the rising power 
and authority of the Bishop of Constantinople/' The elder 
that ruled the select Yearly Meeting of Philadelphia at this 
time, was Jonathan Evans, a man whose constitutional charac- 
ter was exactly answerable to the above description, and was 
as painfully jealous of the rising popularity and influence of 
Elias Hicks and John Comly, and having pledged himself to 
his party to carry through their favorite measure of getting a 
committee of their own, he did it with a violence that pros- 
trated the common order and decency hitherto observed in those 
meetings. ^ This committee of ministers and elders was to act 
for them, like the grand jury in our courts of justice. They 
were to find the bill of indictment for heresy, against every 
minister and elder that was not of their party in the Yearly 
Meeting; and another committee appointed in the general 
Yearly Meeting— which, by the way, turned out to be pretty 
much the same Friends — were to go down to all the Monthly 
Meetings, clothed with the executive power of the Yearly 
Meeting, for disowning, by which the anathema they had pre- 
pared was to be efiectually hurled at the head of John Comly 
and his friends. 

Hence the miniature likeness of the man and measures that 
triumphed at the third general council of the Church held at Eph- 
esus, A. D. 431. After referring the reader to the account of 
this Yearly Meeting, given by James Cockburn, I think my- 
self happy that I can contrast the spirit and conduct of John 
Comly, and his friends, who met at Green street, Philadelphia, 
at the close of this Yearly Meeting, with John of Antioch and 
the other eastern Bishops, for whom Cyril had refused to wait, 
when they met at Ephesus, and pronounced against him and 
Memnon, the Bishop of that city, who was his creature, as 



112 

severe a sentence as they had thundered against Nestorins. I 
say, I think myself happy that I can state the fact that Friends 
that had met at Green street, thundered no anathemas against 
their Orthodox brethren and sisters, pronounced no severe sen- 
tence against Jonathan Evans and Samuel Bettle, but only 
gave forth an humble exposition of the causes that led to the 
step they had taken ; embracing a mild remonstrance against 
the proceedings of the late Yearly Meeting, with a view to its 
re-organization through its constituent branches. And where- 
soever the precepts and example of Jesus Christ are loved and 
obeyed throughout the Society of Friends, this important step 
taken by Friends at Grreen street, will be told as a memorial of 
them ; and had they kept to the Christian meekness that they 
then manifested, putting no confidence in the arm of flesh, 
feeing no lawyers, entering no courts of justice, only when 
compelled by law, and when dragged there by their enemies — 
had they kept to the example of their blessed Saviour, having 
nothing to do with the political concerns of the kingdoms of 
this world, carefully avoiding all the unsettling speculations 
and popular delusions that have distracted society — they would 
haye stood now as a city set on a hill, that could not be hid; 
and thousands of the precious visited lambs would have left the 
barren mountains of empty profession, and flocked as doves to 
the ark of the everlasting covenant, ratified hj the blood of a 
Saviour, whose arm, as the great antitype of Noah, would 
have been put forth for their reception ; while their enemies, 
like the followers of the redoubtable George Keith, might have 
afforded a richer harvest for those preachers for hire, and 
diviners for money, whose God is their belly, and whose glory 
is their shame. But alas ! how I have been discouraged to 
see my dear friends continue so unsettled, even after the storm 
had subsided, ready to catch at every bubble floating on the 
surface, blown by any and every conceited speculator, even of 
the most trifling cast. 

The first of it I noticed was so many Friends that were hon- 
orable farmers, and useful mechanics, wanting to be doctors ; 
purchasing a patent right for twenty dollars, and, after reading 
a few books a few weeks, undertake their new mode of making 
money, by trying experiments on suffering humanity. 

Now it grieved me to see, as I did in my own neighborhood, 
a plain Friend, and practical farmer, getting a sulkey with a 



113 

steaming "box and long whip, and go cracking Doctor alono- the 
road. And to cap the climax of absurdity, he fell into the 
abominable Nicolatian practice — leaving his wife, the object of 
his youthful affection, the mother of his children, and taking 
a young woman in her place, plunged into the abyss of ruin in 
property and character, and I fear body and soul. 

Another amiable Friend, who then lived in this town, a use- 
ful and ingenious mechanic, caught the same restless mania, 
and would be a Doctor in spite of all I could say to him ; and 
in one of his unfortunate experiments upon a neighboring 
young woman, she died under the operation, which so incensed 
the people against him, he sold out and left us ; and within the 
last year I was invited to meet with his neighbors, who assem- 
bled to attend his remains to an untimely grave, and sympa- 
thize with a distracted widow and helpless children. 

Yet these and such as these, were, and are, encouraged in 
their folly by Friends of high standing, ministers and elders. 
Indeed, one of our elders told me, in substance, that the first 
of the two alluded to above, was so great a Doctor that he never 
lost a patient. 

I am certainly not prepared to condemn the Thomsonian 
system of medicine, for it may be, for aught I know, the best; 
but as a believer in the religion of Jesus Christ, whose design 
and end is to make us consistent, reasonable beings — as a patri- 
otic American citizen, who sincerely desires the present as 
well as the everlasting welfare of my fellow creatures — I feel it 
my duty to bear a faithful testimony against such abominable 
presumption and ignorance. 

As to the old established system of medical practice as it noio 
stands^ among us, I verily believe it to be one of the greatest 
impositions among Christians, and in the lower section of 
Bucks County, is worse than priest-craft. Instance their in- 
fluence over silly women, male and female, in every family 
where they attend ; instance, too, their influence over our law- 
makers, so as to have their wages secured, if the miller, the 
butcher, the storekeeper, shoe maker, and even the very nurse, 
gets nothing ; instance, too, their influence in so changing the 
customs of society, as to monopolize a species of surgery, that, 
taken in connection with their enormous fees, ought to furnish 
a monument to their shame. But what can we expect from a 
set of hard hearted unbelievers, as I verily believe they are, 

9* 



114 

taking them in the aggregate ; for the very manner in which 
they are educated and prepared for their business, is calculated 
to destroy all the finer feelings of a virtuous youth. 

If one half of what I have heard of young Doctors he true, 
from what I have known myself of both young and old, I would 
Booner follow a son of mine to his grave, with an unshaken 
evidence that he had died a true believer in Jesus Christ, than 
to follow him to the study of medicine in its present unchristian 
form. 

Yet these are the men who are called upon to be our com- 
panions in a dying hour, when our souls as well as our bodies 
are agonizing in their pain, and the strong and tender ties of 
natui'al affection are to be broken, attended with all the fearful 
apprehensions of an after state ; when the sun, the moon, the 
stars, and every constellation of heaven, is sinking into ever- 
lasting obscurity — ^yea, the very heavens themselves seem rolling 
together as a scroll, and eternity presenting to our view ; when 
of all other times we need the Christian's sympathy, the prayer 
of faith and living aspiration, by which the humble, tender- 
hearted, childlike disciple anoints our poor sin-sick souls — we 
are surrounded by a set of consulting Doctors, as selfish, hard- 
hearted, and I fear as cruel, as the witnesses to the dying ago- 
nies of a suffering Saviour. And should we, like him, cry out^ 
" My G-od ! My God ! why hast thou forsaken me V^ we can 
expect nothing from such attendants but vinegar mingled^with 
gall. 

And as if the great Author of Nature was not sufficient, with 
the assistance of his noblest and loveliest work-women, for 
their own business, tyrant custom shamefully introduces these 
men into the presence of our wives, our daughters, and our 
mothers, at a time when they seldom want more than the pro- 
tection of their Heavenly Father, and the sympathy and assist- 
ance of their female friends. And what aggravates this 
ridiculous custom, after their shameful attendance and partial 
assistance for an hour or two, they have the effrontery unjustly 
to charge and accept from five to fifty, and even a hundred dol- 
lars ; while the poor woman that has endured the toils of a 
wearisome day, and had scarcely closed her eyes on her hum- 
ble pillow before she was called to the assistance of her neigh 
bor, spends the whole night in the most assiduous attentions, 
and would feel herself insulted if she was offered moneyas a 
compensation for her kindness. 



115 

I know just such a woman now in our borough, whose 
meritorious usefulness makes her worthy of double honor, and 
were it not for awakening those mean, insignificant passions, 
jealousy and envy^ I would record her name, in hopes that it 
might be handed down to posterity. But suffice it to say, she 
is a Deborah indeed, a mother in Israel, a blessing to the neigh- 
borhood where she lives, and an honor to her family and 
friends. 

Ah, dear, lovely woman ! I sincerely wish she had a more 
efficient advocate for her rights, and a more powerful and avail- 
ing redresser of her wrongs ; but she has my little mite, which 
I can assui-e her comes sincerely from the very bottom of my 
heart. 

One more statement of unpleasant facts about these Doctors, 
and then I hope I will be done finding fault with them. 

Some of them profess to be religious, and I fear too often 
enter the sick room consummate hypocrites — manifesting in 
their address suavity and tenderness, while cursed self is coldly 
calculating how much money they will make out of their pa- 
tient, which is proven from the enormous bills that are too 
often produced to the executor or administrator, by which the 
poor man's widow and children are in one sense robbed — while 
at the same time, the religious Doctor can support a hireling 
priest or keep a forte piano. 

They profess to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, the hum- 
ble carpenter of Nazareth, and prove themselves hypocrites by 
their practice, in which they neither obey his precepts, nor fol- 
low his example. I read that he told his disciples to do good 
and lend, hoping for nothing again ; but I never read that he 
commanded them to make money out of suffering humanity. 
I read of this heavenly physician doctoring in the family of a 
very rich Roman military officer, but I never read of his send- 
ing in a bill of two or three hundred dollars, but understand 
from the Scripture, that he was amply paid by the Christian 
faith and humility manifested by the centurion, and gave him 
the following receipt in full of all demands — '■^ I have not found 
so great faith, no, not in Israel. '^ I read of Peter and Paul 
performing divers cures of inveterate and afflicting diseases, 
and relieving poor suffering men and women, but I always un- 
derstood from the Scriptures of Truth — or what some call ^^the 
Word of God'' — they did it without money and without price, 



116 

and ministered to their own necessities and them that were 
with them, by the kbor of their own hands. 

I will now ask those Doctors that profess to be Christians, 
especially members of the religious Society of Friends, whether 
they can find an argument in the Scriptures in their favor ; 
that is, in favor of mahing a inercenary concern of relieving 
the sufferings of their felloio creatures y that would not equally 
support a hireling ministry — and whether the two professions, 
as respects the practice of both Doctors of divinity and Doctors 
of medicine, are not a great imposition upon society, and call 
loudly for reform ? ^^ Hireling ministry,'^ said H. Gr. 0., while 
mayor of the city of Boston, to my friend J. F., ^^ is the great- 
est curse and darkest cloud that hangs over Christendom/' 
^^ It is contrary to my interest,' ' says Doctor Belville, late of 
the city of Trenton, one of the greatest physicians in the 
United States, to my friend S. C, ^' but you may depend upon 
it that we Doctors are the greatest imposition upon the public, 
and are shamefully living upon poor, weak, credulous people/' 
The late Nicholas Waler, an eminent lawyer, and afterwards 
an eminent minister of the Grospel, declared in a public meeting 
held in London, '' that the priests, the doctors, and the lawyers, 
were the deceivers of mankind." Seeing, then, that men of 
the greatest knowledge and experience, unite with the illiterate 
mechanic, that priest craft and doctor craft are shameful im- 
positions upon Christians, and a sad evil in the land, I will 
ofier for the serious consideration of Friends and others, the 
following proposition, as a remedy or prescription for the 
disease : 

Let all Christian parents, guardians, and heads of families, 
consider themselves as delegated shepherds, under the Great 
Shepherd and Bishop of souls, charged with the care of a flock 
of lambs, in the wilderness of this world, and for whose present 
and everlasting welfare they are in a certain degree responsi- 
ble, and will have to answer it before the tribunal of final 
judgment. This awful consideration will beget a religious 
concern to bring their children, even in their infancy, to Clirist, 
that he may lay his hands upon them, and bless them, answer- 
able to the concern of those parents we read of in the New Tes- 
tament. This can most assuredly now be done by praying to 
Christ, as an omnipresent Saviour, a quickening spirit, that 
hath all power in heaven and in earth, and has promised and 



117 

will undoubtedly fulfil it^ ^^ Whatsoever you ask in my name, 
I will do it." This name is the j^oioeo^ and quickening sjnrit 
of all fervent and effectual prayer. Such as are thus exercised 
will be kind, affectionate, tender-hearted, forgiving one another^ 
and be the happy instruments of kindling on the altar of the 
child's heart, the same devotional flame that glows within their 
own breast. 

Thus the dear rising youth of America niay be brought into 
the true sheep fold, and hear the voice of the Heavenly Shep- 
herd, who has promised he will give unto them eternal life, 
and none shall pluck them out of his hand. '' My "sheep they 
hear my voice and follow me, but the voice of a stranger they 
will not follow.'' Hence the next generation of men and women 
will see through the sheepskins upon those ravening wolves, a 
proud, pompous, mercenary priesthood will sink undistin- 
guished into the common mass of the people, and this dark 
cloud and curse of Christendom be seen no more for ever. 

Let the present rising generation, both male and female, be 
well educated in itseful knowledge, to fit them for useful 
business, and let all scholastic learning that is merely orna- 
mental be dispensed with, and substitute in its place the sub- 
stantial parts of the science of medicine, particularly anatomy 
and botany. Let this be taught by competent male and female 
teachers. 

It can give but little satisfaction to tell our poor suffering 
fellow creatures about metaphysical ahstracfions. But to be 
able to tell them concerning their physical structure, how fear- 
fully and wonderfully they are made, and what part of their 
complicated system is disordered, occasioning their suffering, 
and that there is a remedy provided by a merciful Heavenly 
Father and physician, in the inexhaustible resources of the 
mineral and vegetable productions of the earth — is an attain- 
ment worthy of our pursuit. 

This important knowledge being instilled into our dear chil- 
dren at school, will ripen when they come to maturity, and 
when they enter upon the stage of active life, to mingle with 
their elder brethren and sisters in the social and relative duties, 
they will come forth as TVilliamPennsaid of G-eorge Fox, good 
neighbors, good physicians, and consistent Christians, all of 
Grod Almighty's own making. Or in other words, those noble, 
rational beings, both male and female, that the G-reat Author 



118 

of natiwe hatli endowed with the requisite qualifications for 
physicians and surgeons, will take their proper places in society 
and shine as stars; while the children of avarice and the 
nurslings of pride and ambition, will be compelled from ne- 
cessity to labor with their own hands, undistinguished in their 
respective channels of usefulness. 

Then, in every neighborhood, there will be raised up a suffi- 
cient number of such physicians and surgeons, both male and 
female, that would enter the house of sickness and affliction 
like good neighbors do now, with the tear of Christian sympa- 
thy in their eyes, and the noble, benevolent spirit of the Gospel 
in their hearts; spirits that would be wounded in the house 
of their friends, were money offered them as a compensation 
for their services, and should even the selfish thought steal into 
their heart, they would turn it out as a temptation of the 
devil. 

I am glad I can speak experimentally of such kind neigh- 
bors. Some eight or ten years sine?, my family was afflicted 
with sickness. My wife was a cripple in both of ber hands, 
my son and three daughters were sick, two of them sadly so. 
Indeed one of them was so nearly gone that there was scarcely 
a hope of her recovery left. Ah, it was then I could appre- 
ciate the value of those noble women, who are a blessing to 
every neighborhood where they reside. With what tenderness 
and devotion did they attend upon my poor sick daughters, by 
day and by night. There was one young woman, whose name 
I can never recur to but with feelings of love and gratitude, a 
name that I would record, were it not that there were so many 
like her, who may see this account and be tempted to feelings 
of jealousy, that great destroyer of female happiness. It was 
then I saw what our Lord embraced in one of his sayings, 
^' There are last that shall be first, and first last f out of four 
brothers-in-law, that lived no great distance, the younger — a 
strong powerful looking man, with his constitutional fondness 
for fun and frolic marked in the lines and configuration of his 
face, often called to offer his services, and I can never forget 
that dear brother the morning we thought one of our daughters 
was near her end. His strong masculine countenance was 
melted into more than female softness, and something like the 
angel of mercy and goodness reflected from the tear that stood 
m his eye, while his manly bosom heaved with sympathetic 



119 

feelings too big to be uttered. This man thougb he made no 
profession of religion at that time, gave abundant evidence that 
he was influenced by brotherly kindness, one of the highest 
perfections of a Christian. I would rather have such a man 
to nurse me, when sick, and help me when not able to help 
myself, than any other kind in our neighborhood. Such men 
as these I have known in every place where I have lived for 
forty-five years ; and many of them poor men, who have to 
maintain a large family by the labor of their own hands, after 
working hard all day, would be sent for to go many miles to 
sit up with the sick all night, because of their superior skill, 
attention, and kindness. These men would feel themselves in- 
sulted if they were offered money for their services. 

Now I want physicians and surgeons made of such men as 
these, and such women as were before alluded to, who are 
benefactors and blessings to their fellow creatures. And this 
in the way I have proposed, appears to me to be the only means 
that can break up effectually the shameful imposition of doctor 
craft, which in its present form and practice is a disgrace to the 
cause of Christianity. 

I am now glad I can record some honorable exceptions to 
the above severe strictures on Doctors. 

Whilst my family was sick, my wife was anxious to see Doc- 
tor Parrish. I wrote him a few lines touching the affliction, 
stating that one of my daughters appeared near the gates of 
death, and mentioning the particular desire of my wife to see 
him. About this time I understood he received a message 
from Joseph Bonaparte, then living at Bordentown, that he 
wished to see him also, and for which visit I have no doubt the 
ex-king of Spain would have cheerfully paid him one hundred 
dollars. But I further understood that the Doctor in- 
formed the rich potentate, that it would be inconvenient to 
attend him at his residence, but if he would come to Philadel- 
phia he would wait on him. Such is the impression I have 
received. But when Doctor Parrish received a message from 
his poor friend, he came forthwith thirty miles, and after com- 
forting and encouraging my afflicted wife and children, by his 
peculiar sweetness and suavity, I say peculiar because sincere, 
I took him aside to pay him, when he made use of a language 
likejhis, '' No, my dear friend, I cannot take thy money. It 
was not money induced me to come,, hut sympathy and Jove 



120 

for tJiec and tliy afflicted family. ^^ Ah, my dear friend, who- 
ever thou art, who may read these sayings of Doctor, Parrish, 
let me tell thee they embrace the very thing I want. I want 
a great many just such Christian doctors as Doctor Parrish, 
with this great improvement upon their characters, they shall 
carry on carpentering, merchandising or farming, for the hon- 
orable support of themselves and families, so that they can do 
unto every Christian brother and sister as Doctor Parrish did 
to me and my afflicted family, that the blessed kingdom of our 
Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ may be established in the 
heights of civilized America, and the darling attributes of 
mercy and goodness exalted above all the hills of cursed sel- 
fishness and pride. 

I rejoice that I can produce another redeeming case in the 
character of Doctor Isaac Chapman, late of Wrightstown, in 
the county of Bucks, Pa., whose meritorious example as a phy- 
sician is worthy to be recorded. I am aware that he was no 
friend of mine, having, in our Quaker revolution, enlisted in 
the Orthodox ranks, and was of course taught by his leaders to 
view me as a heathen man and a publican. But Grod forbid 
that I should be influenced by that mean, pitiful bigotry, that 
would deprive him of his due, merely because we differed in 
Quaker politics. Doctor Chapman was a worthy man, a faith- 
ful guardian to the orphan, and an upright protector of the 
widow. But his moderation in his charges to the rich and the 
poor during a long and extensive practice, has no parallel. I 
shall only state two cases out of the many I have known. 

Avery rich man's daughter married a respectable young man 
in Philadelphia. Some short time after their settlement she 
came on a visit to her father, and was taken sick with an ob- 
stinate lingering fever. Doctor Chapman attended her nearly 
three months, riding four miles twice a day a considerable 
part of the time. When she had recovered so as to be able to 
remove back to the city, her husband called on the Doctor for 
his bill, not dovibting but what it would be fifty or sixty pounds. 
He had brought that sum, but what was his agreeable surprise 
when the Doctor produced his bill calling for only twenty 
dollars. 

The other was a poor man that Doctor Chapman had attended 
in his family for nearly fifteen years, and the poor man had 
become alarmed in consequence of hearing of the enormous 



121 

"bills of other Doctors, and having saved ten dollars, he met the 
Doctor in the road, and gave it to him. The Doctor at first 
refused to take it, but the poor man insisting upon his taking 
it as part pay, he consented ; but observed at the same time he 
thought it was too much, but he could hand him the change. 
Some days after, the poor man met the Doctor again, when the 
Doctor handed him five dollars and a half change, out of the 
ten : charging only four dollars and a half for fifteen years' at- 
tendance on his family. Now, dear Doctor, whoever thou art 
that may read this, go and do likewise, that thy name may 
leave a savor grateful to surviving generations. 

I have wandered so far from my path I hardly know how to 
find my way back, or at what point to start again. I believe 
I started from the path of narrative after some of my dear 
friends who had run wild after the Thomsonian system of 
doctoring, and having overtaken them, I do not wish to up- 
braid them with their folly, for I do not doubt the honesty and 
sincerity of their motives ; but I would try to persuade such 
as have left the path of humble industry, for this new mode of 
making money out of suffering humanity, to return to it again 
as soon as possible ; for the jjatJi of humble indus.try wiU he 
found to he the path of the just mauy whose increasing hright- 
ness will lead to present and everlasting peace ; and I think that 
some who may read this will be prepared, having learned 
from the things they have suffered, to take the above advice. 

Yes, there are too many valuable Friends that have suffered 
by running after new things ; and I have noticed that when 
Friends give way to unsettlement, they hardly know when to 
stop. Now their medical speculation seemed to prepare the 
way for a morns multicaulis speculation, and whether it was 
the losses and crosses attendant on this wild scheme, bringing 
many into the bondage of debt and difficulty, which led them 
into sympathy for the poor slaves — or whether it was their fine 
patriotic feelings; certain it is, that many of these Friends 
were prepared to embrace, and did join, the political aholition 
speculation. I wish here distinctly to be understood, that I 
make use of the word or term political, to distinguish between 
the present aholition 'mania and the sober, serious testimony 
against Slavery, recognized by the Society of Friends. It led 
the political abolitionists to open their meeting houses to law- 
yers and lecturers, which led many to still greater weakness; 

10 



122 

eyen a kind of head philosophy, by which they undertake to 
account for all the peculiar exercises of the soul, by particular 
protuberances on the head. Now ministers and elders profes- 
sing to believe in this, and going about feeling young people's 
heads, grieves and discourages me. But to cap the climax of 
absurdity, and show what ridiculous inconsistency Friends are 
running into, too many Friends profess to believe in a system 
of deception called animal magnetism, and are actually en- 
couraging men who are going about operating on poor weak 
little girls — I suppose at an age when the peculiar state of 
their nervous system answers their diabolical purpose. 

Now I cannot help looking upon this deception with anger; 
being grieved not only at the hardness of the conjurers' heartS;, 
but the cruelty of parents, in letting their dear little girls be 
so shamefully abused. If this is suffered to go on, I should 
not be surprised, feeble as my hold on life is, to live to see with 
sorrow too many of our dear young women ruined, and virtue, 
honor, and even common decency, trodden under foot with im- 
punity. 

When the Jesuits, those great deceivers of Catholic Christen- 
dom, commenced their operations, they began by teaching chil- 
dren, but ended in teaching princes; and nothing but a provi- 
dential interference prevented them from putting civil and re- 
ligious liberty into a common grave. 

I hope there are but few Friends that have run into this sad 
extreme, but there are many who are running after the other 
bubbles. Indeed, some of the best Friends belonging to our 
Monthly Meeting, were caught by that rattle and conceit called 
morus multicaulis, and two of them acted so Christian like, that 
their conduct ought to be recorded. 

One of them was a worthy, exemplary elder, and the other a 
young married man, with a lovely wife — a sweet preacher — and 
an interesting family of young children. 

The elder was a farmer and a renter, and thinking to make 
something, he laid out a hundred dollars in mulberry trees, 
and when they were at their perfection for market, another 
very clever Friend bought them, and gave his obligation to 
the elder for seven hundred dollars, payable in nine months. 
Before the money was due, the bubble bursted. Some time 
after the nine months had expired, the elder called on his 
friend with the obligation for seven hundred dollars, and see- 



123 

inn- him look dejected, he said very pleasantly, ^^ don't he dis- 
couraged, I have not come to insist upon thy fulfilling thy 
promise. But as thou art a rich man and I am a poor one, 1 
thought I would propose to thee to pay me the one hundred 
dollars I payed for the trees — I will then give thee up thy bond 
for seven hundred and lose all my labor. Here was practical 
Christian feeling. 

The other was a young Friend who was a hatter, that like 
the dear primitives' studied to be quiet and mind his own busi- 
ness, and work with his own hands, so that he walked orderly 
towards them without and lacked nothing ; but he was in debt 
for his house and lot, and had to pay usury to a money-monger. 
This sometimes discouraged him, and being a little melan- 
choly, one day this money-making gipsy, morus multicaulis, 
came singing into his shop, and her song was so musical 
about making a little money so easily and so honestly, to pay 
the debt on his house and lot, that in spite of his better judg- 
ment, he bought a small parcel of mulberry trees and planted 
them on his lot. When they were ready for market, the son 
of a wealthy Presbyterian elder, brought up by his father an 
honorable carpenter, in the path of humble industry, whom 
the priests and their satellites persuaded to go to some eastern 
college to study idleness, arrogance, and speculation, prepara- 
tory, perhaps, for holy orders,— bought our young friend's trees 
for three hundred dollars, and gave his note for the money, 
payable in nine months. But the bubble breaking, as in the 
other case, our young collegian fled, and our friend wot not 
what had become of him. But it appeared in the sequel that 
this young Presbyterian had had too good an education, under 
the care of his excellent father, in the path of humble industry, 
to be entirely spoiled, even by priests and colleges, for he went 
to sea, and being diligent and faithful in his business, saved 
money and came back like an honest man to pay his debts. 
Calling on our friend he said, " Charles, I have come to pay 
you part of that money I owe you, and renew the obligation, 
and if it takes me fifteen years, if I live, I will pay you every 
cent." Our friend went and got the note, and holding it in 
his hand, thus addressed him in substance : " Dost thou think 
I could take money from thee, for which thou never hadst a 
valuable consideration ? No ! poor as I am, I would suffer any- 
thing rather than act so dishonestly," So saying, he put the 
note in the fire. 



124 

See wbatan honorable Presbyterian and an honestbeneyolcnt 
Quaker can do. I sincerely wish that all Presbyterians and 
Quakers, were influenced by the same noble, generous spirit. 
The partition wall which divided the Jew from the Gentile^ 
would be thrown down, and the children of God gathered into 
one, ''That there may be one God and his name One." 

I now return again to the Spring of 1827. The OrthodoX;, 
consisting of the English and Royal Americans, haying, as they 
supposed, gained the ascendancy in the Yearly Meetings, ap- 
peared in full force at Philadelphia quarter, carrying all before 
them. But at Abington, the same week, they were totally de- 
feated after a contest of nearly seven hours. At Concord, 
Salem, Western, Shrewsbury, Rahway and Southern quarters, 
they had to retreat. At Cain and Burlington they were the 
strongest, and came over to aid Bucks, flushed with victory and 
confident of success. 

I can never forget Bucks Quarterly Meeting, held at Buck- 
ingham, in the Fifth month, 1827, especially the meeting of 
ministers and elders. It was to me a distressing, indeed I maj 
say, an awful time, for I felt the weight of the responsibility 
that rested upon me, as the only minister belonging t© 
Bucks quarter then present, that the anathema of ecclesiastical 
censure was to be hurled at, or, in other words, the only victina 
branded as an infidel, and marked for certain disownment, and 
the importance of sustaining, with decency and dignity, the con- 
templated shock. In the agony of my feelings I prayed most 
fervently, and was comforted with the words of the blessed 
Saviour, ''My soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto death, tarry 
ye here and watch with me." I remembered that these ex- 
pressions were used by the blessed Jesus, just before he was 
arraigned before the Orthodox Israelites that composed the Jew- 
ish Sanhedrim, and I thought it a blessed privilege that a worm 
of the dust, as I was in comparison, should drink of the cup 
of suffering a Saviour drank of. Whether it was this 
opening or what it was that stayed my mind, I must leave, 
while I acknowledge with thankfulness, I was willing to su0"er 
patiently for about seven hours. 

I might have fared worse had it not been for my dear friend 
Abraham Lower and Samuel Noble, for a great deal of time 
was spent by Orthodox Friends in trying to get them out of 
the meeting. The distressing alteiGation drove our tender 



125 

friend William Taylor, from the table, as clerk^ to the select 
quarter, and several other valuable Friends, like him, left the 
house; so that the contest on the part of Friends of Bucks quar- 
ter, had to be sustained principally by six elders, and one min- 
ister, with the assistance of A. Lower and S. Noble. 

I think it right to record the names of those elders whose 
conduct on that day was so Christian-like; to wit : — Thomas 
Carey, Benjamin Smith, Issac Buckra an, Joseph Briggs, Jere- 
miah Mahan, and Samuel Swain. I have no recollection of an 
act or saying of either of these Friends that was not in perfect 
propriety. If there was any impropriety of conduct I would 
rather charge it to myself, thought feel no comdemnation for any 
thing I said or did. Our dear friend, Stephen Comfort, was 
with us that dreadful day, but beiug under peculiar depression 
of spirits in consequence of the distressing illuess of his truly 
valuable brother Samuel, I do not remember his saying any 
thing. 

At the general quarterly meeting next day. Friends arose in 
the full majesty of their strength, and Orthodoxy was defeated 
at every point, and that in the shortest time I ever knew the 
meeting to hold. All their written and verbal communications 
were rejected, and the remonstrance of the representatives against 
the proceedings of the late Yearly Meeting, signed by twenty- 
two out of the twenty-four, was read and united with. 

Notwithstanding this apparently signal victory, the battle 
had^to be fought over again three times. First, in the Monthly- 
Meeting immediately succeeding the quarter ; secondly, in the 
next Quarterly Meeting, held at the Falls, and thirdly and last- 
ly, at the Monthly Meeting in the Ninth month, which com- 
pleted the separation, and the Orthodox lost all but the books 
and papers belonging to the women's meeting at the Falls, and 
the privilege of holding their meetings in that meeting 
house. 

Having brought into view two dear friends, Abraham Lower 
and Stephen Comfort, valuable ministers, I feel it right to re- 
cord a brief memorial of them, more especially as their re- 
spective Monthly Meetings have never noted them. Though 
they are dead as to the outwardman, they still live in my mind. 
Dear Stephen, I loved him affectionately as a Christian brother 
in Christ, and verily believe, although a great sufferer, Jesus 
loved him as his c we and ^' loved him to the end;'' granting 

10* 



126 

his immortal soul an admittance into those glorious mansions, 
where the morning stars join in singing hallelujah, and all the 
Sons of God forever shout for joy. 

Dear Abraham may be said^in the language of Scripture, tohaye 
been a valiant man. Living in Philadelphia where he was exposed 
to Orthodox intolerance, some of the last years of his life, he 
seemed almost always to be in arms or in action. Hence his 
resemblance to Joab, that valiant captain and faithful friend to 
the house of David, when the house of Saul was rejected in the 
counsels of infinite wisdom ; and if he had failings, they were 
somewhat like those of Joab, whose violence and zeal caused him 
to slay with his spear, what the king's mercy would have spared. 
This man, like his friend Stephen, has never been noticed by 
his Monthly Meeting, for what cause I know not. One thing 
is certain, there have been those who have been highly me- 
morialized, that had not the courage or decision of character to 
show themselves where such men as John Comly and Abra- 
ham Lower, in the begining of the revolution, stood with their 
lives, as it were, in their hands ; and I am sorry to say, I ve- 
rily fear there are some now among us who are assuming a 
commanding position, and heading a party, who appear to me 
to be going off from Friends, that at the trying time before al- 
luded to, stood behind the screen — or perhaps like the bat in the 
fable, hovering over to see which would be the strongest side. 
Orthodox or Friends, and, if this was the case, I do not wonder 
they are now to be seen flying in the dark, catching and car- 
rying off so many of our youth, that like the insects of a sum- 
mer's evening, are gamboling in the twilight. But when they 
receive the due reward of their deeds, it will be like the afore- 
said bat, they will be rejected by both sides. 

After the monthly meetings in the 9th month, 1827, Or- 
thodox Friends got their ecclesiastical machinery organized, 
as they supposed, exactly to suit the latitude of the United 
^tates, and commenced disowning, preparatory to carrying out 
the advice of their great lawyers, in a regular and systematic 
prosecution for all the property. This ridiculous farce, for I 
can call it by no better name, rouses my indignation, and I 
cannot help looking back upon their conduct, I hope as our 
Saviour did upon rotten hearted professors formerly, when he 
was grieved for the hardness of their hearts; for the hearts of 
such must be hard, who are coldly pursuing a malignant, un- 



127 

just plan of operations, tliat has for its object, all the injury 
tliej could possibly inflict. I may be in a wrong spirit, and 
express myself in unpleasant terms, for I confess 1 never bad 
any thing so to try me as the cold, supercilious and insulting 
manner in which they entered our houses, assuming a juris- 
diction over our families. I confess I got angry, and perhaps, 
like Peter, drew my own sword and cut off their right ear. 
. In the Monthly Meeting of Makefield, of which I am a 
member, there was but two obscure families went off with the 
Orthodox. Not one of our select members went with them, 
so that they could not hold a meeting. Yet these two fami- 
lies, consisting of two youngish men and their wives, with a 
few small children, were considered all sufficient, agreeably to 
the wtfndrous power of their ecclesiastical machinery, to dis- 
own a large Monthly Meeting, and lay down and discontinue 
two large meetings for worship, and take several thousand dol- 
lars worth of property in direct opposition to every principle 
of justice and equity. 

I will here present the proceedings of Makefield Monthly 
Meeting, in relation to the few Orthodox that left them, as a 
striking contrast to their unkind and unjust proceedings against 
us. After waiting five or six years and finding their conduct 
would occasion some difficulty, we united in the following tes- 
timony, which was placed upon record. 

"In the 9th month, 1827, J. B., C. B., M. B., S. B., M. 
B., and M, J., went off and left us, and uniting with others 
that acted in a similar manner in other monthly meetings, set- 
ting up separate meetings, both for worship and discipline, 
thereby dissolving their connection, and resigning all their 
right in our religious society ; and although we can have no 
unity with their proceedings, nor consider ourselves in any 
way accountable for their conduct, or those minor children 
under their care, that have decided on going with them, never- 
theless we cannot for conscience sake make use of the disci- 
pline as a sword to pursue them, hoping they are iiifluenced 
by sincere and conscientious motives, and as free, intelligent 
beings they have an equal right with ourselves to the enjoy- 
ment of religious liberty. We therefore feel most easy to 
make this record of the fact, leaving them in the hands of a 
merciful and most gracious Being, sincerely desiring their pre- 
sent and everlasting welfare ; standing ever disposed, not only 



128 

to compromise or settle as respects property on the great prin- 
ciples of justice and equity, but should any of them become 
convinced it was their duty to return, to receive them with joy 
into the bosom of our religious society/' 

Indeed, it appears to me that the English and Koyal Ameri- 
cans, would have rejoiced in the destruction of Friends' meet- 
ing at Newtown, and have been glad to take our meeting 
house, and put it in possession of the original owner of the 
land, and see him convert it into a cocoonery, or steeple-house; 
for this man, though a descendant from one of the most re- 
spectable families of Friends in Bucks county, was disowned 
for getting married by an hireling priest, and then did one of 
the worst things, I think, he could have done for his standing 
in this world, if not in the world to come, by turning against 
the friends of his honorable father, and his own best friends^, 
and joining the Episcopalians — Friends' greatest enemies; 
who have taken more of their property — more of their liberty, 
and more of their lives, than all other societies put together. 
For a. proof of this charge, I refer the reader to Sewel and 
Gough's history, and to the bitter attack upon Friends, by an 
Episcopal clergyman, in the Doylestown paper, in 1837, over 
the signature of ^'Americus.'^ 

Having given a sketch of the hostile spirit of Orthodoxy, 
against our meeting, I will state a few facts, as relates to the 
attack of the same spirit upon the poor preacher. 

Their first open attack was upon my public character, part 
of which they embraced in a declaration from the Yearly Meet- 
ing of 1828, in which they labored to destroy it, by trying to 
make me out an infidel, and an unbeliever in the great doc- 
trines of Christianity. This they had a right to do, if they 
really thought so, for my public character is certainly a kind 
of public property; but they were sadly mistaken, even in 
this, for the public mind in the little circle in which I moved, 
would not believe them, and moreover their spreading my name 
beyond that circle, gave me a celebrity that my talents and 
qualifications never merited. But their attack upon my pri- 
vate and moral character, was shamefully unchristian, ungen- 
tlemanly and even unmanly, manifesting that hardness of 
heart, and deficiency of understanding that have characterized 
the m.ad brained Orthodoxy of the priests and their satellites 
from the days of the outward advent of the Saviour, down to 



129 

tlie present time. Being in a serious difficulty to get a charge 
sufficient to blast my private and moral character, in conse- 
quence of the merciful care of the Shepherd of Israel in pre- 
serving me from gross evil, when I was wicked enough to have 
plunged into the worst, they had recourse to an old superannu- 
ated stale report that was raised about me ten or twelve years 
before, by a lawyer, then living in our town, and at that time a 
complete tool for a popular Baptist preacher,/Who preached to a 
small class in the old Court House, once a month. These Baptists 
being placed at antipodes to the great Baptist John, were filled 
with chagrin and sorrow to find that Friends were increasing, 
and they were decreasing, and being Orthodox they must do 
all they could do against Friends. Hence the importance of 
knocking down Friends' poor minister, right or wrong ; and I 
being a poor painter and^ coachmaker, may have disappointed 
the said lawyer, in not getting his carriage done for him, ac- 
cording to promise, although I have no recollection of any 
thing of the kind, sufficient for him to report me as a common 
liar, which I believe he did, for a professed Deist told a dear 
friend of mine, he had it from the aforesaid Orthodox lawyer. 
Unfortunately for me, I have been, and still am, the butt of 
the Orthodox and the Deist. Hence the extreme parties in 
the Society of Friends are unfriendly to me, and I do not 
know that I ought to blame them, for I certainly have no 
unity with either of them. Be that as it may, the Orthodox 
Friends got hold of this report, and tried their best to destroy 
my character as a man of truth, both far and near, as the fol- 
lowing fact will abundantly prove. 

Towards the close of 1827, I received through the post 
office, a large letter, and on opening it found there was no 
name to it, only initials, but it appeared to be written in a 
friendly spirit, and in substance was as follows : ^^I have 
heard thee in days that are past, as I then thought, preach 
the gospel, and I loved thee, but lately I heard it told in a 
large company of Friends, thirty or more, principally minis- 
ters and elders, that thou hadst become a kind of leader in a 
party that denied the Christian religion, and trampled all dis- 
cipline and order under foot with impunity, and had become 
BO loose and immoral in thy conduct, that thee was thought 
nothing of by respectable people, and so a great a liar that it 
was proverbial in the neighborhood, if any one told a great 



130 

lie, to say, it was as great a one as Edward Hicks could tell, 
and such was the loss of confidence in thee, thee could get 
very little to do. If this is true, thou hast sorrowfully fallen. 
If it is not true, it is then sorrowful that there should he 
members of our religious society, so lost to every sense of 
goodness, as to circulate such scandalous reports 3 and if thou 
canst send me sufficient evidence that the report is false, I 
stand ready to assist thee in calling them to an account, and 
will send thee the names of thy principal enemies/' This is, 
as nearly as I can recollect, the substance of my friend's let- 
ter. I immediately called on our post master, who, on exam- 
ining his list, found the post office from whence the letter had 
come, and the name of the post master. It was in New York 
State, near Connecticut. There being sufficient room on the 
large sheet of paper, I wrote an answer in substance as fol- 
lows : " I deny the charges, and declare that I am not a leader 
in a party that denies the Christian religion, and is trampling 
upon the excellent discipline of the Society of Friends, for 
there never was a time in my life, when the religion of Jesus^ 
in its blessed simplicity, as recorded in the New Testament, 
and professed by Friends, was more near and dear to me, and 
I think I would be willing to lay down my life for it. And I 
have an increasing attachment and love for our discipline, and 
verily believe it to be the most efficient evangelical code of 
laws ever given to any sect of Christians. And as to the other 
charges, they are scarcely worthy of notice, when I can state 
the following fact. I am now employing four hands, besides 
myself, in coach, sign, and ornamental painting, and still more 
in repairing and finishing carriages, and I think I should find 
no difficulty in doubling my business. I have done the paint- 
ing for two respectable coachmakers for ten years, and if I am 
not mistaken, were I disposed to prosecute for such a shameful 
attack upon my private character, these respectable neighbors 
would furnish depositions in direct opposition to these back- 
biters. But, conscious that I have the unity, the love, and es- 
teem of my friends and neighbors — living in peace and harmo- 
ny with Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists, &c. — conscious, 
too, that I have the unity and Christian sympathy of 
the great body of Friends, constituting Bucks Quarterly 
Meeting, and the Yearly Meeting of Philadelphia, I would not 
go over the sill of my door to clear up a report that is nothing 



131 

but an effervescence of the gall of bitterness in tbe bond of 
iniquity. As to the names of those ministers and elders that 
spread the report, I should be sorry to know them, lest they 
might darken a- long list of worthy men and women, wHo fill 
those stations and stand high in my esteem/' 

This is as nearly as I can recollect the substance of the an- 
swer I wrote, and having just room enough left to write a short 
address to the post master. I told him that the within letter 
which he was entirely at liberty to read, I hoped would be a 
sufficient excuse for the liberty I had taken. The post master 
was a Presbyterian or a Methodist, as was the neighborhood 
generally, and the contents of these letters getting out, milita- 
ted much against Orthodox Friends. 

In a week or two, I got another letter from my friend, with 
his name in full, apologising for the mistake he had made in 
sending the copy instead of the original letter. In this letter 
he bespoke a carriage of me, and to show the confidence he put 
in me — the testimony of Orthodox ministers and elders, to the 
contrary notwithstanding — when I told him I would deliver his 
carriage in New York on such a day of the week, between the 
hours of ten and eleven, he came thirty miles with his horses 
and harness, and we met within ten minutes. This carriage 
turned out to be a good one, and I got others to make from the 
same neighborhood; and when I went into that country at the 
time of the separation of Purchase Quarterly Meeting, in com- 
pany with my kinsman, Willet Hicks, I was rather astonished 
at the number of Friends I met with; and after the separation, 
and the Orthodox had left the house, they were scarcely missed 
there were such a body of Friends and friendly people ; and 
although the English and Eoyal Americans were there in full 
force, and gave notice as they went off, that they would hold 
their meeting for worship, in a large school house, in a beauti- 
ful grove, where seats would be provided for a very large com- 
pany, I understand their meeting was rather a slim concern, 
while the people seemed to come in amass to Friends' old meet- 
ing house j I suppose the Orthodox might think, out of mere 
curiosity to hear a mighty big liar. 

I could fill a sheet of paper with interesting incidents that 
occurred at this Quarterly Meeting, but I shall only say I was 
astonished, amused and comforted, while the Orthodox remain- 
ed with us. I was astonished at the audacious manner in which 



132 

Ann Jones prophesied of the destruction of Friends' Quarterly 
Meeting at Purchase. After denouncing Friends in her usual 
manner, comparing them to men "without heads, clouds without 
rain, trees without roots, and wells without water ; I think I 
remember distinctly she said in substance, that Friends would 
be scattered in less than two years, so as not to be able to hold 
a Quarterly Meeting, and then added emphatically, '-^ Mark my 
words, in less than three years, at the farthest, you will be 
scattered to the four winds.'' Now I do not know precisely 
the state of that meeting, but I believe it has been regularly 
kept up ever since, which, I think, will be sixteen years next 
week. 

I was amused at the ingenious manner in which the English 
preachers managed, in time of the meeting for worship. The 
meeting was not settled before one of them arose and began to 
preach, and as soon as she took her seat, another would rise, 
and so they occupied the time, to the exclusion of all others. 
But what amused me most, was the mistake they were under, 
if they supposed they were disappointing and worrying me, for 
1 was pleased to be excused from preaching, and as the time 
was taken up principally by Ann Jones and Elizabeth Robson^ 
or Anna Brathwaite, I sat most comfortably and heard them, 
for I did love to hear Ann and Elizabeth speak, and I don't 
know but the apostle Paul himself might be pleased to hear 
Ann Jones, even when she " preached Christ, of envy and 
strife,"* for she was so beautiful a preacher, and I am thank- 
ful I have not a bad feeling in my heart towards her. But I 
rather think the apostle would have confined her to the island 
of England, and not sufi'ered her to speak false prophecies in 
the church. 

It is quite possible that I may have overdrawn this picture 
of Orthodox defamation, at any rate it would be right to say 
what I verily believe, that Orthodox Friends of New York 
had nothing to do with it, and if I should judge from the re- 
spect and kindness with which they have always treated me, 
they did not believe the report, but that it emanated from the 
dark strong hold of Orthodoxy, in Philadelphia; for I now 
recollect what I had entirely forgotten, that I got a letter 
about the same time from an Orthodox minister in Philadel- 
phia, containing the same charges embraced in my friend's let- 
*Phil. i. 15. 



133 

ter from New York State^ to which I wrote a similar answer ; 
and that a good old ministering friend, belonging to Burling- 
ton Quarter, that I came up with, on board the steamboat from 
Philadelphia to Bristol, after the Yearly Meeting of 1827, 
told me, some months afterwards, in Trenton, that he felt un- 
easy in his mind, and felt it his duty to make an acknowledg- 
ment to me for the manner he treated me on board the steam- 
boat. For hearing, as he had, among the Orthodox in Phila- 
delphia, that I was so notorious a liar and unprincipled a man, 
he could not feel a freedom to speak to me; but hearing, as 
he had since, from respectable people in my own neighbor- 
hood, so very different a character, he was satisfied that the 
Orthodox account of me was defamation and detraction, and 
being disgusted with them, he had entirely left them. 

I will now just advert again to my Baptist neighbor, the 
lawyer, already alluded to, who, I supposed, gave rise to the 
report of my lying, some ten or twelve years before the Ortho- 
dox got hold of it. This man, when he saw through the 
sheepskins of his priest, which was not a difficulty to a man 
of his superior discernment, became one of my warmest and 
firmest friends, and one of the best neighbors I ever had; and 
in the last interview. I had with him, before he was taken 
sick, he told me I might think it strange, but it was true, 
that if he had not accepted an appointment in the Baptist as- 
sociation, the fulfilment of which seems so necessary at this 
time, I can assure you I would much rather go to your meet- 
ing. And I can never forget the last time that I saw him, 
which was just before he died. I had called to enquire how 
he was, and he insisted on my coming into his room. I found 
him sitting in his chair, for he could not lie down; when he 
took hold of my hand, while his intelligent countenance bore 
the impress of love and affection, he with great difficulty ar- 
ticulated, ^^ how glad I am to see thee,'' three times, and was 
exhausted. He was too hard of hearing for me to speak to 
him, I therefore could only drop over him the tear of tender 
sympathy and love, and silently offer the living aspiration of 
my soul, to that blessed Saviour, that for ever seeks to save 
that which is lost, and has declared there is more joy in heaven 
over one sinner that repenteth, than over ninety and nine just 
persons that need no repentance. 

Now, had our Orthodox Friends succeeded in carrying out 
12 



134 

all their plans, what acts of injustice and persecution they 
would have been guilty of. They would have destroyed our 
meeting at Newtown, while their lawyers would have taken 
our meeting property, worth three or four thousand dollars, 
and given it to one man, whose subscription and labor did not 
exceed one hundred dollars, which Friends have since oifered 
to pay him. They would, if they could, by the assistance of 
their formidable auxiliaries, the hireling priests and their satel- 
lites have destroyed my public character as a Christian minister, 
and fastened upon me the black stigma of infidelity and unbe- 
lief; and, from the evidence already given, would they not, if 
they could, have blasted my moral character, robbed me of 
my reputation as a mechanic, and rejoiced to see me sinking 
into the lowest degradation of shame and poverty, a disgrace 
to my friends, and a burthen on society? And those dear 
children, who have been placed under my care, as a delegated 
shepherd, in the wilderness of this world, for whose present 
and everlasting welfare I have been and still am deeply anx- 
ious, and to preserve from the influence of the prowling hire- 
lingj — I say, would not these Orthodox Friends have rejoiced 
to have seen my interesting charge led off by these wolves in 
sheep's clothing, to the barren mountains of empty profession, 
or lost in the wilderness of vice and immorality, floating- 
down the stream of insignificance, where Orthodoxy wished to 
see their poor father, until they sank, like him, broken-heart- 
ed, into an untimely grave ? Would not these Orthodox, then, 
in passing my once humble, happy home, have shaken their 
heads, like some formerly, saying, '^Ah! he could preach to 
others how they should be saved, but see what a miserable 
end he has come to. He could tell us many fine things about 
the right education of children, but see the shameful end of 
his own. Ah ! we thought it would be so, he was a bad man.'' 
Oh ! cruel, hard hearted Orthodoxy ; no marvel that the in- 
spired patriarch, when he beheld thy grim visage, should ex- 
claim, '^Oh! my soul, come not thou not into their secret;'^ 
and a greater than Jacob should say, on beholding the same 
sight, " Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers." But, oh ! 
humbling, yet joyful consideration, Friends are not destroyed 
and scattered to the four winds — their property is secured to 
them, and guarded by the genius of our republican govern- 
ment; our meeting at Newtown still continues a large, respect- 



135 

able and increasing meeting, considered by all but the priests 
and their Orthodox satellites, a blessing to the neighborhood; 
and enlightened public sentiment is disposed to frown on the 
feeble efforts of Orthodoxy and priestcraft, to fix upon my 
public character, as a minister of the Gospel, a stigma of inji- 
delity and unhelief. INly moral and private character, I think 
I may say with humble thankfulness, is established beyond 
the reach of suspicion, having the confidence, unity and love, 
not only of my friends, but my neighbors of every description, 
young and old, and even the followers of the hireling entrust 
me with some of their most important concerns. Yes, I make 
the record of the fact with gratitude and humble thankfulness, 
not with exultation and boasting, that so far is the malignant 
anticipation of a respectable Orthodox from being realized — 
who thought if I appointed a meeting, no one would come to 
it — that 1 have now several written and verbal invitations to 
hold meetings among the people, and when I feel a freedom to 
accept such invitations, which is not often the case, the houses 
are filled to overflowing. I say I do not make this statement 
boastingly ; far from it, for I verily believe it is " the grace 
of our Lord Jesus Christ," graciously bestowed on the chief 
of sinners, that the people love ; therefore, to him be ascribed 
all praise, thanksgiving and renown for ever and ever. And 
my dear children are so far from being scattered and led off 
by the prowling hirelings, that they continue steady members 
of society, and those that are married, were married according 
to our Christian order, and are a comfort and consolation to 
me y and even those young men that served an apprenticeship 
with me, are in unity with me ; and when I sit down in our 
meetings for worship, twice a week, I am surrounded by dear 
Friends and friendly people, that I love, and I have good rea- 
son to believe they love me. In a word, I am as happy as any 
man ought to be in this world, and have every blessing that I 
ought to ask for, and, conscious from whom these blessings 
come, I feel a daily concern to rejoice ever more, and in every 
thing give thanks. 

Bucks Quarterly Meeting is nOw, 1844, larger than it has 
ever been since my knowledge of it. Indeed the concourse of 
people is so great at Buckingham, that the house, though very 
large, will scarcely accommodate one half of them. So that, 
after twenty years^ notwithst«Txlir - {h^. great exertions of Or- 



136 

thodox Friends to get the property and name of Friends in 
Bucks Quarterly Meeting, they appear now to have lost 
both. 

But it must be confessed that some of their predictions have 
almost been fulfilled, ^' that we would be overrun with ranter- 
ism/' for there was a time when our Quarterly Meeting was 
sadly tormented with these wrong-headed enthusiasts, whose 
principal strength was one of our superior women. She at 
one time brought a concern before the Quarterly Meeting held 
at Wrightstown, where I think she sat among the men nearly 
one hour, manifesting with her party the most decided deter- 
mination to carry her point, I opposed her to her face, I trust 
as Paul did Peter, because I thought then, and still think, she 
was to be blamed; but I could not question for a moment the 
sincerity and purity of her motives. But she appeared to be 
drawn away and enticed by some of the most popular and plausible 
subjects that could possibly be presented to the minds of Friends 
in the then unsettled state of Society ; and I have no doubt that 
excellent woman sustained a great loss as a Gospel minister, by 
attending political abolition meetings, temperance meetings, 
and so forth, and undertaking to be a lecturer therein. She 
is now gone to the eternal world, and the sweetness and love I 
feel for her, embraces a hope that I shall, ere long, meet her 
glorified spirit in the presence of God, who is the judge of all. 
But certainly, dear Martha Smith presented to my mind a 
case, which exhibits in a clear view, the great importance of 
superior women always being right, for when they get wrong 
they are so difficult to manage. This the apostle Paul expe- 
rienced in the Corinthian church, and did what he thought was 
the best thing at that time, by commanding them to be silent ; 
and I think it was well for me that I had not Paul's influence 
and authority, as I think I should have made a bad use of it, 
for I found myself strongly tempted to be Orthodox, with 
those wrong-headed enthusiasts, that were troubling Society. 
But I learned one valuable lesson from what I suffered at that 
time: I found how easy it would be for me to become Orthodox 
in my turn, when I got a standing and influence in Society ; 
in the consciousness I felt of this standing and influence, there 
was fostered a seed of pride and ambition that made me feel 
indignant and hard towards those that were opposed to me, 
and I was tempted to correct a thing wrong in itself, in a 



137 

worse spirit. The same evil seed made me unhappy, when I 
heard even my friends, especially great ministers, spoken of 
in a language like this : G. W. is the greatest preacher I ever 
heard. 

Now why was I hurt to hear a friend that I had loved and 
united with, thus spoken highly of? Because I had listened 
to, and^ been delighted with the same foolish song, sung by 
some silly women, directly or indirectly after me, and had 
been secretly lifted up with pride, and was now to be thrown 
into the condemnation of the Devil. This sin, which to me ap- 
peared exceedingly sinful, brought me very low, and I besought 
my Saviour fervently, that this messenger of Satan might 
be removed, when I thought I was answered as Paul was an- 
swered on a similar occasion, "My grace is sufficient for thee.'' 
Thus I was relieved from this bondage of corruption that 
would have led me to envy and hate my brother. By " the 
grace of our Lord Jesus Christ," I learned, moreover, from 
what I suffered, how deficient I had been in Christian charity, 
that crown and diadem of the redeemed soul ; that charity 
"that suffereth long and is kind ; that envieth not; that 
vaunteth not itself; is not puffed up; thinketh no evil; re- 
joiceth not in iniquity.'' But alas ! I had indulged too much 
a secret joy when I heard of any evil befalling my en- 
emies, especially the Orthodox Friends. How then could I, 
while indulging such evil thoughts, obey that commandment 
of my blessed Redeemer, "I say unto you, love your enemies; 
bless them that curse you, and pray for them that despitefully 
use you and persecute you." Ah ! I think I have learned 
something from, the things I have suffered in the depths of 
temptation, and am prepared to receive the encouraging ex- 
hortation of the apostle James, "My brethren count it all joy 
when ye fall into divers temptations, knowing this that the 
trying of your faith worketh patience; but let patience have 
her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting 
nothing." Oh ! dear brother or sister, whoever may read this, 
do not rest satisfied with thy standing and influence, as a min- 
ister, or an elder, while the enemy of thy soul has a secret in- 
fluence over thy thoughts, making them too busy for thy 
peace— making them too often the dark postern to secret pride 
jealousy, envy and hatred ; but keep thy eye single to thy 
blessed Saviour, as a quickening spirit, who will enable thee 

12* 



138 

to overcome all evil, and give thee to sit with him on his 
throne. This is the only way we can sit in heavenly places, 
in Christ Jesus, 'Hhe mark for the prize of the high calling." 
I have a humble hope I shall yet attain to this blessed esta- 
blishment in the truth, that the fear of the Lord, as a foun- 
tain of light and life, will preserve my poor soul from thinking 
evil, or indulging a secret joy when it comes upon my ene- 
mies, of whom I have spoken freely, in making a statement of 
what I verily believe to be facts; and if I know myself and am 
not deceived, I certainly have no unkind feeling towards those 
whose names I have mentioned, especially dear old Jonathan 
Evans, for whom I have ever felt, and still continue to feel, 
a decided partiality. But I believe what I have said of him 
was true ; that he was a violent, choleric man, and too much 
like myself, malignant and bitter against his enemies, which 
he supposed we were, and called us Hicksites, separatists, infi- 
dels, &c. But I cannot help considering him as honest as 
Saul of Tarsus, and when Jesus Christ was revealed in him, 
and established his kingdom, the lion eat straw like the ox, 
and Jonathan Evans became a changed man, and consequently 
was sorry for all his acts of madness and violence; and should 
I ever be permitted to enter the abodes of the ransomed and 
redeemed of the Lord, I shall hope to see the angelic spirit of 
dear Jonathan Evans and Elias Hicks, clothed in white rai- 
ment, with palms of victory in their hands, united for ever in 
that innumerable company that '^ shall hunger no more ; neither 
shall they thirst any more; neither shall the sun shine on 
them or any heat; but the Lamb that is in the midst of the 
throne shall feed them; he shall lead them unto fountains of 
living waters, and God shall wipe away all tears from their 
eyes.^^ Oh ! that that death that has destroyed the life, love 
and unity once so eminently manifested in the Society of 
Friends, could be swallowed up in victory, in the church mili- 
tant, that God might wipe away all tears from all eyes, and 
the rebuke of his people remember no more, that ^'the 
mountain of the Lord's house might be established in the top 
of the mountains, and exalted above the hills ;'^ and that the 
Society of Friends might once more flow together, beating 
the swords that have been employed in smiting each other, 
into something like the ploughshare of humble industry and 
Christian benevolence, forgiving one another, as God for Christ's 



139 

sake forgives them ; and that spear that has pierced the tend- 
erest feelings of the nearest and dearest friends, separating 
husbands and wives, parents and children, might he converted 
into something like the pruning hook of brotherly and sister- 
ly kindness, that would watch over one another for good, and 
cultivate those precious branches that still remain in the vine, 
^^ gathering the children, and those that suck the breast,'^ 
while ^^ the bridegroom goes forth of his chamber, and the 
bride out of her closet, while the true priests and ministers ^ of 
the Lord are weeping between the porch and the altar, with 
unwearied intercession, saying, spare thy people, oh ! Lord, 
and give not thy heritage to a reproach/^ 

Newtown, 2d month 12th, 1846. 

I have thought it right this day to commence a little diary, 
or memorandum of passing events. 

Since the beginning of this year, according to the course of 
nature and mortality, several of my particular friends and ac- 
quaintances in the little circle in which I move, have passed 
out of time into eternity ; among which was John Blaker, aged 
70 ; Jacob Heston, 96 ; Isaac Longstreth, 82 ; Joshua Paxson, 
80. The first was an old fellow soldier, a poor man, like my- 
self, that was blessed with a good wife and some good, useful 
children — the best of earthly riches. The others were Friends. 

I attended Isaac's funeral at Horseham, day before yester- 
day. It was large and instructive. My dear friends Joseph 
Foulk, Daniel Comly, Margaret Longstreth, and Anne Garri- 
gues, I believe had good service in the line of the ministry.^ 

This is our meeting day. Oh, that I may be favored with 
the company of the beloved of souls, that I may worship in 
the beauty of holiness.' 

II th. At the close of yesterday I was favored with the pres- 
ence of my blessed Saviour, as a quickening spirit, preparing 
my soul to offer a living aspiration — thanksgiving and praise 
for my many blessings, both spiritual and temporal. How 
fervently I could then pray, not only for those that were the 
nearest and dearest to me in the little circle of acquaintance, 
but all the precious visited children in the world; especially 
the sick, the sorrowful, the broken-hearted and discouraged 
souls, that are sinking in the quicksands of despair. 

22d. A day of favor. I begged on the bended knee of my 
soul before I left my pillow, that I might have a good, silent, 



140 

solemn meeting. My prayer apj^eared to be granted, for it 
was a precious baptizing opportunity to my poor soul. The 
meeting was large, and my dear friends J. M. S. and S. A. S. 
appeared to have good service in the ministry. I laid my head 
on my pillow with a grateful and thankful heart. Oh ! that I 
may be thought worthy of the continuation of such a blessing. 

2bth. Yesterday Benjamin Swain, of Bristol, was buried. I 
did not attend the funeral. This day was our select Quarterly 
Meeting, quite large on the men's side. Several ministers 
from neighboring quarters were with us, and seemed to be 
favored; especially if we might judge from the length of their 
discourses. I suffered in silence the fore part of the meeting, 
but being favored with a portion of the quickening spirit, I got 
some relief in the house of secret prayer. 

2Qth. This day was our general Quarterly Meeting, held at 
"Wrightstown. A very cold day, much snow in the roads, and 
of course pretty good sleighing. Much people were in at- 
tendance, and much speaking by the several ministers, whose 
bells seemed to me to send forth but a dull, unavailing sound, 
excepting our young friend S. L., who I thought had the most 
of the pomegranate which is the essence of the Gospel. I was 
favored to sit in silence, and at times blessed with the spirit of 
prayer. Indeed, I thought concerned Friends of Bucks Quar- 
terly Meeting might thank Grod and take courage. 

21 th. This day a messenger arrived from New York to inform 
us of the illness of my very dear grand daughter, Phoebe Ann 
Carle, which brought my mind under a close exercise in sorrow 
and anxiety. My dear Elizabeth went on the same evening. 

28i!A. A day of sorrow on account of my dear grand child. 
Towards evening got relief in a sweet exercise of prayer and 
supplication. 

3(i Month 1st. Had an excellent devotional meeting in 
silence. 

2c?. The most snow on the ground, and the coldest weather 
I ever knew in the Third month. No mail from New York, 
of course no notice or information about my children. 

3g?. Intelligence from New York respecting my dear little 
grand daughter of a very discouraging character, which pro- 
duced heart-rending sorrow, for I certainly loved her, if possi- 
ble, too much y notwithstanding I would rather she would die 
in her present innocence, than live to be proud and wicked, 



141 

for I could now hope tliat in heaven her angel could behold 
the face of the eternal Father. 

Ath. Pretty much the same to-day. Oh ! how hard it is to 
resign those that are so near and dear to ns. What a renewed 
evidence of my own weakness, when I consider how much ad- 
vice I have given to others, in the time of affliction ; and am so 
little disposed to take my own advice, when sorrow and trouble 
come to my own door. 

bth. This day intelligence a little more encouraging from 
New York. 

QtJi. Quite encouraged by a few lines from my son in New 
York ', but alas ! will not to-morrow's news be like a lowering 
cloud ? This day attended the funeral of Rachel Heston, a 
woman of sorrow and acquainted with grief. Had a solemn 
time in testimony and supplication, but a fear has rested on 
my mind that my remarks on war had more of party zeal than 
Grospel authority. 

1th. A letter from my dear Isaac in New York. Not quite 
so encouraging respecting our dear little Phoebe Ann, only the 
Doctors think now her disease is a congestion of the brain in- 
stead of a dropsy. If she is raised I shall believe it is the 
Lord's doings, and will be marvellous in my eyes. I feel as if 
I could say " Thy will be done.'' 

^th. I feel almost as if I had been at the funeral of my dear 
little Phoebe Ann — the corpse of Louis Willard's little daughter 
Hannah was so much like her, only one year older. Indeed 
like her in almost every respect — almost a perfect young wo- 
man, at the age of thirteen, the darling of her father, to whom 
he never had occasion to speak a harsh word. It seemed as if 
it would almost break his heart. Louis lives in Southampton, 
among Presbyterians. He is not a member among Friends. 
The opportunity was to me a solemn one. "We met at the 
house this morning. First day, at nine o'clock. 

9th. This day received a letter from New York containing 
the heart-rending intelligence of the death of our precious little 
Phoebe Ann. She died a little after nine o'clock on First day 
morning, and what seems a little remarkable, it was at the 
very time I was standing by the coffin and beholding the very 
image of her, in the lovely corpse before alluded to. I remem- 
ber I was so affected I had to retire to a back window, and al- 
most wept aloud. I referred in my communication to my pe- 



142 

ciiliar feelings, having a grand-daughter ahuost exactly like 
her, then at the point of death, if not a lifeless corpse. Itwas 
one of the most solemn and aiFecting oj^portunities I ever had; 
and after my return home, my mind seemed clothed with some- 
thing like a solemn melancholy, until the arrival of my very 
dear daughter, Sarah H. Parry, and her husband. I had 
written to her of the illness of dear Phoebe Ann, but she felt 
so anxious that she left her little babe, and came eleven miles, 
the worst of travelling, to see us, and returned that evening. 

This day, the 10th, myself and wife, my son Isaac and 
daughter Elizabeth, were to have been at the wedding of 
Joseph Saunders and Mary Parry, daughter of my very dear 
friends and brother and sister, Isaac and Mary Parry. But 
our allotment is the house of mourning, instead of the house 
of feasting. The Lord knows best what is best — blessed be 
his holy name forever. 

11th. The remains of our dear Phoebe Ann Carle were taken 
to-day to Westbury, Long Island, to be laid by the side of her 
dear little brother Silas. The meeting was at the house in 
New York, at eight o'clock. My mind has been with my dear 
afflicted children all day. I have wept, I have prayed — what 
can I do more ? I have never known what such sorrow was 
before. Oh! that my blessed Saviour would put forth his arm 
of power, as he did to Peter, that my poor head may be kept 
above the rollings of the tempestuous billows. Oh ! that I 
could have got a letter to-day. 

ISth. A day of gloom and sorrow. Oh! that I had more 
faith that works by love, which is that charity that suffereth 
long, and is kind ; and oh ! that I had more hope that would be, 
an anchor to my poor soul, which seems tossed upon the tem- 
pestuous billows, without sun, moon, or stars. 

14ith, Seventh Day. My dear son Isaac has returned from 
New York, without any accident, and reports that my dear 
John and Susan Carle are supported beyond what could have 
been expected, and behave with Christian dignity under their 
sad loss. It is the Lord's doings, and in connection with what 
I have suflPered with them, marvellous in my eyes. Thanks- 
giving and praise be ascribed to the Lord God and the Lamb, 
for ever and ever. My poor soul feels relieved from the most 
intense suffering for ten days I ever experienced. 

Second Day, the IQth. Yesterday, till afternoon, was com- 



143 

fortable, for I had a solid, silent, sensible meeting ; but in the 
afternoon talked too much, and too lightly for my peace. Our 
sober, goodly neighbor, James Roberts, was buried to-day. 
He formerly attended our meeting, but got taken with the 
Methodists. I hope he was a lover of the Lord Jesus, and if 
so has experienced his ever blessed salvation. 

l\th. Yesterday was a day of favor, for I obeyed the apos- 
tolic injunction, being diligent in business, and, at the close of 
the day, fervent in spirit, that the Comforter might bind up 
my almost broken heart ; for I feared I had mourned too much 
for the loss of my dear little Phoebe — weeping almost every 
hour of the day. But oh, precious favor ! my prayer appeared 
to be answered, and I can truly adopt the language of dear 
Job Scott : 

" A thankful heart I feel, 

In peace my mind is stay'd, 
Balsamic ointments heal 

The wounds by sorrow made." 

\^th. Was invited to attend the funeral of Elisha Wilkinson, 
of Philadelphia, buried at Wrightstown. Heard of the death 
of Daniel Stroud — both old men like myself. 

\^th. A day of favor; had a precious meeting in silent sup- 
plication. ^' Thanks be to Grod for his unspeakable gift.^' 

23<^. Yesterday was First day. Had a precious meeting, for 
my poor soul was quickened into life, and blessed with the 
spirit of prayer, which was poured forth in silence, with 
many tears. I felt thanksgiving and praise to cover my 
mind through the rest of the day, yielding sweet peace when 
I laid my head upon my pillow at night. I have heard of the 
death of one of the companions of my youth, Margaret Rich- 
ardson, wife of John Richardson, near Wilmington, in the 
State of Delaware. 

25th. Been quite unwell to day, though upon the whole a 
profitable time, for I was engaged in writing to my dear sor- 
rowful children in New York, with much feeling, and many 
tears. Heard of the death Aaron Eastburn, a goodly Ortho- 
dox Friend, of Solebury, that so loved the Lord Jesus, as, I 
hope, to witness his salvation. I felt great love and sweet- 
ness for him. Heard of the death of William Brown, a poor 
colored young man, that lived with Edward Leedom, who, 
with his valuable wife, were kind and suffered him to want for 



144 

notliing. All ! blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain 
mercy. 

26th. A good day for me, though quite unwell. Had 
a good solid silent meeting, two of my dear sisters preached 
the Gospel. 

27th, 2Sth, 29th, ^Oth and Slst. Laid by with something 
like an inflammation of the breast. Received the affecting ac- 
count of the death of Joseph Davis' wife, Ellen, the once 
lovely daughter of my dear old friend Stephen Stevens, of the 
Yalley. Her death was attended with peculiarly distressing 
circumstances. Oh ! how I felt for her dear husband and 
children. 

Ath month 1st. I thought it would be right to make a few 
remarks on a subject that I fear will add to the unsettlement 
of Society, prefacing them by a reference to an act of my own, 
which some Friends think is quite censurable. 

I published last year an extract from my narrative, the pur- 
port of which was to try to encourage the youth of all parties 
in the Society of Friends, to unite together again, and by 
practical Yighteousness ^nd practical reform (not speculative,) 
save the Society of Friends. Notwithstanding I know my 
motive was to do good and not evil, my little milk and water 
concern has given offence, and perhaps set a bad example, for 
poor J***^ (no matter who, for when I blame I pity, and there- 
fore must conceal the name,) thought he had a right to publish 
a book, and put his name to it, and it may be that his motive 
was as good as mine. But he was certainly a little more un- 
fortunate in publishing sentiments that make him an offender 
against the plain letter of discipline, which has given his ene- 
mies an advantage over him. I think, with all his learning, 
he has shewn a want of wisdom, if not of common sense ; for 
his book would certainly have been better without denying the 
authenticity of the Holy Scriptures. And may we not apply 
to him those pertinent remarks of a Christian poet, ^^He 
is learned in volumes deep, he sets — in wisdom shallow. His 
learning is like the lunar beam, it affords him light, — but no 
heat. It leaves him undevout — frozen at heart while specula- 
tion shines.'^ 

It appears that poor J*** was betrayed into this notion by 
what is but too common with young preachers, a fondness for 
distinction and speculation — hence a few ambiguous remarks 



145 

contained in a letter of that great man, E. S., of Alexandria, 
appears to have been sufficient. 

And here I will leave E. S., and his letter, that poor J***'s 
defenders have produced to assist him in his contest with his 
friends, and the plain letter of discipline, which says in sub- 
stance, ^' If any of our members deny the authenticity of the 
Holy Scriptures, it being evident that they are not in unity 
with us, they should be immediately dealt with, and if they 
cannot be convinced that they are wrong, they should be dis- 
owned. Now I fear poor J*** has committed himself in this 
objectionable part of his book, for if I understand him, he 
considers Samuel the prophet, like Peter the hermit, and Da- 
vid, king of Israel, like Pope Urban the 2d, and that part of 
the Holy Scriptures are not to be depended upon, being writ- 
ten by nobody knows who ; who was just as likely to be mis- 
taken as any other writer. If poor J*** expected to make 
his book better, by this eccentric flight from Jerusalem to 
Jericho, I think he is greatly mistaken, and I am mistaken if 
he does not find in the end, that the skeptical company and 
spirit he has now introduced himself to, will strip him of his 
youthful innocence, rob him of his peace of mind, wound him 
in his feelings towards his best friends, and eventually leave 
him more than half dead ; and, although there may be good 
Samaritans that will try to bind up the wounds, and keep him 
on his own beast, that beast may be so crippled in its feet as 
to not carry him straight any more. 

And now, after having expressed some of my feelings and 
fears respecting poor J***^s book, I will leave him with my 
own little word of exhortation to pass for what it is worth, 
advising my dear friends to do the same; and to remember for 
our instruction that when Hannah Barnard came out in Eng- 
land, over fifty years ago, with the same speculation, Friends, 
by getting into a bitter Orthodox spirit, made bad worse, by 
the manner in which they opposed her, and only proved the 
truth of that old saying, '^ that two wrongs never made one 
right.^^ I say then, better let poor J*** and his book alone; 
and, if I am not very much mistaken, this redoubtable book, 
with my own little penny production along side of it, will 
soon sink with their own dead weight, undistinguished among 
the numerous productions of a quibbling, scribbling age. 

But if Friends will be Orthodox at poor J***'3 book, they 



146 

will make him the hero of a party, in spite of all his consti- 
tutionally amiable imbecility. 

Ath month Ath. I am this day sixty-six years of age, and I 
think it will be safe for me to say that few, and full of evil, 
have been the days of my pilgrimage, I do not know that I 
have done any good for my merciful Heavenly Father's cause, 
unless it was publishing that very little book that has given 
offence. I feel sorrowful, and I feel straitened, and hardly 
know what to do. I am not well enough to work, and I am 
not sick enough to be confined to my house or bed. I receiv- 
ed the first rudiments of my religious education among Friends, 
and came among them from a sense of religious duty, verily 
believing that they were what they professed to be, ''the peo- 
ple of God, called Quakers.'' I have been trying to defend 
them against the charges of their enemies, but I confess I am 
discouraged, and almost disposed to put my hand on my 
mouth and be silent, when such men as J. J., above alluded 
to, come out with such sentiments as are contained in his 
book. 

5^^. First-day went to meeting very feeble in body, and got 
into a belief that I must preach, and I fear my little service, 
at best, was like Gideon's teaching was to the people of Suc- 
coth, as it were with briers and thorns ; although I verily 
thought what I had to say was the truth, notwithstanding 
it appeared so uncharitable. I am going to try to attend all 
our Monthly Meetings. Oh ! that I may do it in silence. I 
have preached much for Friends of Bucks Quarter, and I wish 
now to pray for them in solemn silence, the little time I have 
to be with them. 

6fh. Much better in health, but got discouraged, and gave 
out going to the Monthly Meetings, though dear George Hicks 
came with his carriage and horses, and kindly offered to take 
me. I did not understand my Divine master to command me 
to go, or I would have tried to go at the risk of my life. I 
only thought I felt a freedom to go, and was afraid I 
was not in a right state of mind, I have thought very 
seriously of my uncharitable discourse yesterday, and cannot 
see that I was wrong in declaring what I did for truth, for the 
Saviour told the Jewish priests, and their preaching and pray- 
ing satellites, that they did not believe in him, and therefore 
should die in their sins, and never come to him. This ap- 



147 

pears to have been strictly fulfilled^ even to the present day. 
Will it not be the same with unbelieving professing Chris- 
tians? Jesus Christ told his disciples that as they believed in 
God, to believe also in Mm, for in his Father's house there 
are many mansions ; and that he would go and prepare a place 
for them, and come unto them again, that where he was there 
they might be also. The disciples witnessed this fulfilled in 
his spiritual appearance without sin unto salvation. Now 
where Christ was, these disciples came ; hence they became 
Christ-like, humble, holy, harmless, and entirely separate 
from the sins of selfishness and covetousness, the leavening 
sin of unbelievers, which Christ had warned his disciples 
against in this language, '^ Beware of covetousness,^^ and which 
they ever afterwards considered " idolatry.'' 

To be short, it appears to me that every soul that comes 
where Christ is, will become Christ-lihe, and all such will show 
by their faithfulness to his commandments, that they are real 
Friends, rejoicing when they can do good, and lend, hoping for 
nothing again. 

I am led to these reflections from having just heard of an old 
Orthodox elder who has no children, manifesting such a hard 
spirit of covetous selfishness, when a valuable young minister, 
with a large family of children, and a heavy debt upon him, 
could not pay all his interest. I pay it made my heart ache, 
and caused an awful fear to rest upon my mind, that he was 
not acquainted with Christ, and therefore would die in the sin 
of coveteousness, and never come to him, and it is my fear that 
such professors of Christianity, will, in the end, stand in 
a worse predicament, if possible, than the unbelieving Jews. 

1th and 8th, Nothing worthy of particular notice has oc- 
curred, only that yesterday was a serious day with me, occa- 
sioned perhaps in part, by a distressing dream the night before, 
and although I have little or no confidence in my dreams, I 
could not help feeling peculiarly solemn. To-day I think I 
have been edified and encouraged in reading two of dear Wil- 
liam Penn's sermons, preached more than one hundred and fifty 
years ago. Oh ! the unity and love I feel for that precious 
Friend. How I do wish that Friends could have kept more to 
their good old doctrine and discipline. One of the sermons was 
preached at a wedding when a Quaker wedding was a serious 
thing, a solemn religious institution. But now our excellent 



148 

discipline is too much changed into a civil concern^ and I fear is 
too much like the labor saving and money saving machinery of 
the day. 

9^/i and \^tli. Yesterday morning I felt myself a man of 
sorrow and acquainted with grief; and I secretly rejoiced, for I 
feared I had had too little sorrow and enjoyed too much happi- 
ness in this world ) but now I hope I am not forsaken, for my 
sorrow seems to increase, — the Lord knows best what is best,, 
blessed be the name of the Lord. It was our Monthly Meet- 
ing, but I could only rejoice that I was silent, for I could find 
no springs of life. It was a low, discouraging time to me, but 
I dare not find fault with my brethren and sisterS;, fearing the 
cloud was in poor me, and me only. 

Will. The doctrine of the apostle opened before me with the 
greatest clearness that I ever saw it, when he says, there '' Is 
now no condemnation to those that are in Christ Jesus, that 
walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit. For the law of 
the spirit of life in Christ Jesus, hath made me free from the 
law of sin and death.'^ I believe the Christian can attain to 
this through the fear of the Lord, and watchfulness unto prayer, 
so that he can lay down his head at night, after a day thus 
spent, feeling no condemnation. I felt encouraged irom the 
precious promise of the Saviour, ^' At that day ye shall know 
that I am in my father, and ymi in me and I in you.'' 
' \Zth. Yesterday was First day — a day of favor — had a deep- 
ly instructive meeting in solemn silence. I say deeply instruc- 
tive, for I hope I shall never forget the preservation I ex- 
perienced from preaching from a clear opening, with light on 
the subject, but a secret command to be silent and reserve 
the exercise for another occasion. This morning, the 13th, felt 
as if I ought to attend the funeral of our aged friend Isaac 
Ryan, but dreaded to meet the scoffer, the game-maker, and 
the unbeliever, and almost determined to go another way on 
business ; but felt so uneasy that in my great strait I opened 
the Bible that lay before me, and was solemnly admonished by 
an apostolic admonition. I gave up immediately to what I 
thought a heavenly vision, and went to the funeral, and to me 
it was a memorable opportunity, for which my poor soul over- 
flowed with gratitude and thankfulness to the heavenly 
Shepherd for such mercy and goodness to me, a poor unworthy 
creature. 



149 

I4:th and 16th. Diligent in business and somewhat fervent 
in spirit, desiring to serve the Lord; but nothing to boast of, 
save a sense of great weakness of body and mind. 

16th. Just returned from our Fifth day meeting. It was to 
me a precious silent, solemn opportunity. My dear younger 
brother, J, M. S. and wife, and S. A. AY. were favored, I 
thought, to preach the gospel. 

17th, Diligent in business, but I fear not sufficiently fervent 
in spirit, serving the Lord. Therefore I did not, like Daniel, 
feel the angel of his holy presence touch mc about the time 
of the evening sacrifice. 

ISth. Diligent in business, and if not fervent in spirit, se- 
riously thoughtful about death and eternity. Oh! how awful 
the consideration ; I have nothing to depend upon but the 
mercy and forgiveness of God, for I have no works of righ- 
teousness of my own ; I am nothing but a poor old worthless 
insignificant painter. 

19th. Just returned from our First day meeting. "Whilst 
I kept silent it was a precious opportunity, but my preaching 
I must leave for the judgment of others — not daring to 
say anything in its favor, only that I have the peaceful evi- 
dence that I tried to do right. 

20th. Industriously engaged at my trade or business — 
working with my own hands to provide things honest in the 
sight of all men, ministering to my own necessities and them 
that are with me, which always produces peace of mind to an 
humble, honest Christian. 

21st. I was this day invited to the funeral of my poor neigh- 
bor Charles Buckman, a few years younger than myself. How 
soon it may be my turn I know not, but it certainly cannot be 
long, and with all my high profession of religion, what more 
can I have to depend upon in a dying hour, than poor Charles, 
who made little or no profession. If we are saved, it is not by 
works of righteousness of our own, but the mercy and for- 
giveness of Grod through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

22d. I have just returned from the funeral of my neighbor 
Charles Buckman — a great crowd of people to whom I had a 
word of encouragement, having a comfortable hope that my 
dear brother had found mercy in the presence of a merciful 
Saviour. Spoke of the funeral of another of my neighbors, 
John Ettinger, a young store keeper, and a steady, sober, in- 
13* 



150 

dustrious man. He leaves a wife and two small children to 
mourn their irreparable loss. Thus while a poor worthless 
creature hangs on to life, the promising youth are taken 
away. 

23c?. Arose from my bed this morning comfortable in body 
and mind. What a blessed favor if we can have an incontesti- 
ble evidence that we are under the superintendence of Him 
who careth even for the sparrow, and will not permit any- 
thing to happen to us but what will work together for our 
good. This day was our Fifth day meeting; to me it was an ex- 
cellent meeting, for I was favored to enter into the closet of 
my heart and shut to my door, and pray to my Father who 
seeth in secret, who has so often rewarded me openly. My two 
younger sisters in the gospel preached sweetly. 

2^th. Attended the funeral of John Ettinger ; went very 
poor and and stript, but thought I was favored with the spirit 
of prayer, which I offered both spiritually and vocally. Had 
an humble hope that my dear young neighbor made a good 
end, and was, through adorable mercy, received into everlast- 
ing happiness. 

2bth. Renewedly convinced of the necessity of more 
watchfulness unto prayer and talking less even in my own 
ftimily. 

26^^. First day morning; my dear S. was very unwell last night, 
a high fever and pain in the breast. Ah ! we must part even if 
she gets better this time. She has been an exellent and faithful 
wife to me for more than forty years, and I may add in 
the language of the wise man, that her price has been far above 
rubies. She looked well to the ways of her house, and eat 
not the bread of idleness. Not a very good meeting- to-day, 
owing to my own neglect, perhaps, in offering the morning sa- 
crifice. Had not set long in meeting when a strange young 
man came in and gave me a note, the purport of which, was 
to spread an invitation to the funeral of Susan Cadwallader, 
wife of William and daughter of our worthy deceased friend, 
Thomas Stapler, senior. Made a few remarks on that inimi- 
table parable of the householder going out at the different 
hours to hire laborers in the vineyard, that may only pass for 
what they are worth, which may be very little. My dear 
younger brother preached the Gospel, I thought, in its bless- 
ed simplicity. 



151 

21 til. I attended the funeral of Susan Oadwallader, and was 
led to speak to a sober, sensible, respectable people. But the 
best part of the opportunity to me was the silent part, because 
I was favored with the spirit of prayer and supplication, which 
I offered from the closet of my heart to my Father, who seeth 
in secret. I am informed that our Orthodox Friends had a 
quiet, respectable Yearly Meeting last week, with the excep- 
tion of a storm of words on Second day morning. I am glad 
they seem disposed to try to cure the sad diseases of Society, by 
love and silence. Oh! that we may do the same, that the Lord may 
yet spare his people, and give not his heritage to reproach. I 
am encouraged to believe that if Friends will only return to 
the path of humble industry and practical righteousness, that 
the younger branches of Society will again be united, and the 
people of Gody called Quakers, gathered into one, and experi- 
ence what was spoken of by the Lord's prophet, ^^ There shall 
be one Lord and his name one.^' 

1'^tli. Had an agreeable visit from one of the female com- 
panions of my youth, and her husband. She was a young 
woman that I loved, and with whom I had spent many happy 
hours, innocently. I now enjoy the advantages of being pre- 
served even in what I call negative innocence. 

2^tfi. Attended our little select Preparative Meeting, at 
Makefield. A dull, dry time to me, owing no doubt to my 
own carelessness. I still hope that my silence in all these 
meetings, which I have been led to prescribe as a remedy to 
cure the disease of skeptical ranterism, that is getting in 
amongst us, will meliorate, if it does not remove the com- 
plaint. 

30^A. This day was our Fifth day meeting, to me a precious 
religious opportunity, in solemn silence. My dear youngest 
sister, E. S., preached the Gospel in child-like simplicity. 
Spoke of the funeral of Elizabeth Buckman, wife of Charles, 
that was buried last week, which appeared to bring a tender- 
ing solemnity over the meeting. In the afternoon attended 
the funeral of Benjamin Dyer, an aged neighbor, near eighty- 
six. Had nothing given me to say, and was encouraged and 
thankful for the preservation, for I began to fear I was getting 
into the habit of preaching at funerals. Oh ! that I may be 
preserved from being a dead, formal preacher, and a light, idle 
jester, which I fear I gave way to this evening in too unguard. 
ed a conversation. 



152 

bth mo. \st. A singular thing has occurred to day. I fully 
intended to attend the funeral of Elizabeth Buckman, but be- 
ing intent on my work, when I enquired of my son the time, 
he told me it was a little after the hour of meeting at the 
house, which was nearly a half mile off. 1 thought then it 
might be as well to wait until they came to the grave yard, 
which was close by my shop, and resumed my attention to my 
work ; and on making a second enquiry whether the funeral 
was coming, I was told that it had come and gone. I was 
really astonished, and thought it a singular circumstance, and 
if I had had a special command to go I should have been 
grieved at my carelessness, but as that was not the case, I 
have come to the conclusion that it might have been best for 
me not to go. It is quite possible for even Quaker preachers 
to get into a habit of preaching, and the people in a habit of 
hearing them, till the whole concern terminates in a lifeless 
form. 

2d. My dear brother, Isaac Parry, came to invite me to 
the funeral of Evan Jones, a very respectable, useful, and 
wealthy Friend, of North Wales, and took me home to his 
house, so that I could attend said funeral on First day morn- 
ing, at nine o'clock. 

3c?. Attended the funeral of E. J. It was very large. I 
was thankful to be favored with the spirit of prayer, but it 
was in the cross I offered a public supplication in the room 
with the mourners. A very large meeting at the meeting- 
house, and much speaking, but I think I have cause to be 
thankful I was preserved in silence. Oh ! that the Heavenly 
Shepherd may continue to extend the crook of his merciful 
care, whenever I attempt to preach the Gospel willingly, for 
there is deep instruction in the testimony of the beloved 
Paul, ^'For though I preach the Gospel, I have nothing to 
glory of, for necessity is laid upon me — yea, wo is unto me if 
I preach not the Gospel. For if I do this thing willingly, I 
have my reward : but if against my will, a dispensation of the 
Gospel is committed unto me.'^ I very much fear that the 
blessed cause of Jesus Christ, as professed by Friends, has 
been seriously injured by ministers being too willing to preach, 
or in other words preaching in our own will, and not waiting 
for that luo that Paul speaks of. 

^tli. Received two invitations to funerals. First, Mary 



153 

KnowleSj an afflicted widow, aged seventy-eight, to meet at 
the house at ten o'clock tomorrow. Second, Elizabeth Taylor, 
daughter of Phoebe Taylor, aged fifteen, at three o'clock in 
the afternoon. 

bth. Just returned from the funeral of our dear friend 
Mary Knowles. It was large, and to me an instructive and 
encouraging time, because I did not act in my own will, but 
from a secret sense of religious duty. The people were seri- 
ous and solemn, and helped the poor contemptible instrument, 
and not the poor instrument them, as is too commonly boast- 
ed of by us preachers. 

Just returned from the funeral of the daughter of the 
poor widow. It was to me a quiet, silent, solemn opportunity, 
and although I was led into an interesting view of what con- 
stituted Paul's "widow indeed,' I am thankful I kept 
silent. 

Qth. Been pretty steadily engaged in my shop, feeling weak 
and dull in body and mind, of course nothing worth recording, 
excepting my serious thoughtfulness of death and eternity, 
which I have reason to look for daily, if not hourly. Oh ! it 
will be an awful thing to die. 

My soul, 
When near thy close, thou hast that gulf in view ; 
That awful gulf no mortal e'er repassed ; 
Eternity, thou dreadful, pleasing thought." 

Pleasing, because of my unshaken faith in the mercy and 
forgiveness of God, through my blessed Lord and Saviour 
Jesus Christ. 

7th. To-day our Monthly Meeting was held at Makefield; 
the first and silent part was to me a good meeting, but I was 
sadly disturbed by a member, respecting what I feared was an 
extract from a political abolition newspaper, and as I cannot, 
for conscience sake, read such papers, it was exceedingly try- 
ing to have to sit and hear such matter said over and over 
again for Gospel, in a meeting for worship. But I must suf- 
fer in silence, for my Divine Master has instructed me to starve 
this spirit by silence, and therefore I have been silent for 
nearly a year in our Monthly, Quarterly and Select Meetings. 
Indeed 1 have apprehended there were two or three members 
of our Monthly Meeting that were particularly employed by 
a junto of members in Philadelphia, to publicly oppose me in 



154 

meetings for business, for even in meetings for worship, one of 
them has manifested his hostility to me by peculiar contortions 
of face and gesticulations of body, getting up from his seat 
and walking to the fire to warm his feet whilst I was speaking, 
disturbing the solemnity of the meeting, manifesting his own 
weakness, if not wickedness, and rendering himself ridiculous 
in the sight of the whole assembly. In one instance, I pub- 
licly reproved him, and had, I think I may safely say, the 
thanks of the whole meeting, and his own mother in particu- 
lar. But stop, this perhaps will not do. I ought to know 
that if such Quakers as these, call the master of the house 
Beelzebub, if I belong to the household I must expect opposi- 
tion, and ought to rejoice in being worthy to suffer for Christ's 
sake. 

I have just received an invitation to the funeral of Joshua 
Gilbert, of Byberry, a Friend in the station of an elder, about 
my age, to meet at his late dwelling at ten o'clock on Seventh - 
day morning, the 9th inst. 

8th. Steadily engaged in my shop. My business, though 
too trifling and insignificant for a Christian to follow, affords 
me an honorable and I hope an honest living. Having to 
work with my own hands, for all the money I get, appears to 
me to be more in accordance with primitive Christianity, than 
living on the work of other people's hands; especially on rent 
and usury. But my view on this subject appears too much 
out of fashion to be united with, even by Friends. I there- 
fore must leave it to be settled before the tribunal of righteous 
judgment, by Him who commanded his faithful servant Moses, 
to say unto his people, '^ Thou shalt not lend thy money on 
usury"; and to his son Jesus Christ, ''Do good and lend, 
hoping for nothing again, and great shall be thy reward in 
Heaven." 

9th. Went ten miles this wet morning, to the funeral of my 
friend Joshua Gilbert ; offered a word of exhortation to a sober, 
sensible, tender people, whose lively spirits, together with su- 
preme heavenly help, appeared to hold up the hands of a poor 
trifling preacher, so that he got through his exercise with 
peace of mind. E. P. was there, and spoke beautifully. Dined 
with my kind friend Israel Walton. Tried to speak a word of 
comfort to the poor widow. 

lO^A. First day of the week, a sweet, heavenly meeting, in 



155 

solemn, silent supplication, the poor unworthy pilgrim feels 
refreshed and encouraged, and intends to try to go to-morrow 
morning to attend the Yearly Meeting, in Philadelphia. 

11th. Passed a sleepless and distressing night, in the course 
of which I felt satisfactorily released from a religious concern 
to attend the Yearly Meeting, which I consider to be a release 
from suffering. So far I rejoice; indeed I will try to rejoice 
eyer more, and in every thing give thanks. I have reason to 
give thanks that I have renewed evidence that I may lay some 
claim to being "a son," " For whom the Lord loveth he chas- 
teneth and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth,'^ and to a 
little hope that I am filling up my portion of the sufferings of 
the Lord Jesus. Oh ! that I may be thought worthy to drink 
of the cup he drank of, and be baptised with his baptism. 
But this has been a day of sorrow, and, I trust, profitable suf- 
fering, and I hope that it is better for me to be at home, hum- 
ble and industrious, weeping and praying, than in Philadel- 
phia, idle, talking and laughing. 

12fh. A day of diligence and industry, but not sufficiently 
watchful unto prayer, and therefore felt a lack or shortness in 
coming up to the apostolic injunction, to be " diligent in busi- 
ness, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord." From what I hear 
from Philadelphia, I have reason to hope my dear friends are 
getting along quietly in the Yearly Meeting, for which I feel 
thankful, having sincerely prayed that the Lord would spare 
his people, and give not his heritage to a reproach. 

l^th. Nothing worthy of particular notice has occurred to- 
day : but the sound of war, which we hear from almost every 
quarter is sorrowful. Although we are at a great distance from 
the immediate seat of war, yet a serious consideration of the 
confused noise of the warriors, with garments rolled in blood, 
must be a subject heart-sickening to the true Christian. Friends 
appear to be favored to get along without much contention in 
their Yearly Meeting, and I am willing to hope our abolition 
Friends are getting more moderate and mild, for it appears to 
me they hurt a good cause, by letting their zeal outrun their 
knowledge. 

14:th. Our midweek meeting to-day rather small, but to me 
silent and profitable. Had a pleasant visit from Samuel W. 
Doak, a Presbyterian minister, who lived in Newtown 33 years 
ago ; now president of a college in East Tennessee. He appears 



156 

the most meek, humble, unobtrusive Presbyterian minister I 
ever met with. Our interview I think was mutually agreeable. 
I think I can say sincerely, that I love all who truly love the 
Lord Jesus, let their name and profession bo what it may. But 
the true love of Christ is only proved by obedience to his 
commandments, and where I see no such fruits, I consider such 
hypocrites and unbelievers. 

l^tJi. Nothing has occurred to-day requiring particular no- 
tice ; but information respecting our Yearly Meeting is rather 
discouraging. The political abolitionists among Friends, I real- 
ly fear, are party in a conspiracy against the doctrine and dis- 
cipline of the Society, determined upon its dissolution. How- 
ever, my only hope of the preserTation of the Society of Friends 
— next to the special care of the Head of the church, — is the 
uniting of the religious members in the different parties ; and I 
feel thankful I was enabled to lay before the youth my concern 
on the subject. 

IQth. I have just had a very agreeable visit from W. B., 
formerly of Baltimore, and now of the Eastern Shore of Mary- 
land, who has been attending the Yearly Meeting in Philadel- 
phia which closed last evening. His account of its several sit- 
tings was not so discouraging, and my friend J. B.'s. account 
of the meeting has satisfied me that our sufferings, both individu- 
ally and collectively, if we keep in the everlasting patience, will 
work for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. 
Upon the whole I am encouraged to believe that truth gained 
the victory in this Yearly Meeting. Notwithstanding, I must 
acknowledge there is a spirit of skepticism, ranterism, and con- 
fusion, that I have not prescience enough to see where it will 
end. I am willing however to hope that we have learnt suflBcient 
from what we have suffered, to act with more Christian kind- 
ness and moderation, in case of another separation. 

17th. First day of the week and our meeting day of course, 
but to me our meeting was a heavy, laborious time. Instead 
of having any bread to hand out to others, I had hardly a 
crumb to live on myself, owing I conclude to my own careless 
indolence. My poverty is therefore the due reward of my 
deeds. My dear younger brother, J. M. S., I thought preach- 
ed the Gospel, and sister S. W. spoke a few good words. 

ISth. Being indisposed, I have neither been diligent in busi- 
ness, nor fervent in spirit, of course I have not been serving the 



157 

Lord) and sensibly feel the bad effects of idleness, and idle 
conversation. Oh ! that I could talk less, and pray more I 
should be better prepared to live, and better prepared to die! 

19^7?-. I have been seriously thinking of the vast iraportance 
of being favored with the presence of infinite mercy and good- 
ness. No marvel that the inspired writer should record ex- 
pressions like this, '' One hour in thy presence is worth a thou- 
sand elsewhere/' How abundantly I am convinced from ex- 
perience, as well as observation, that self righteousness in poor 
frail nnortal man, is the greatest enemy to the cause of God on 
eart^h. It was certainly the greatest opposer of Jesus Christ, in 
his outward advent, and constituted then the only unpardonable 
sin ; and is it not the cause of unbelief in his spiritual appearance, 
as professed by Friends, and the foundation of all the unsettle- 
ment and disunity among us? For I find that in proportion as 
1 sufi'er myself to think lightly of my friends, I think highly of 
myself. On the other hand, when I abhor myself in dust and 
ashes, I am concerned to love and respect my friends. 

20^A. Had an invitation to attend the funeral of a woman by 
the name of Carr, at Wrightstown, an entire stranger. Felt so 
much willingness of my own to go, that I doubted the propriety 
of going, for I hope that I have a holy jealousy, lest I should have 
a life of my own, in preaching at funerals. Yet there is another 
important consideration arises in my mind — I profess to believe 
that a dispensation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is committed 
unto me, — it involves a sacred, an awful responsibility, — and 
as time to me at this period of life is very precious, ought I 
not to embrace every opening to finish the work that is given 
me to do ? and is there not something like an open door, when 
a special invitation is sent to me by a stranger ? This was the 
view, my dear deceased kinsman, E. H., took of it, and hence 
I believe he always attended such funerals, when able. 

2ist. Attended the funeral of the woman above alluded to. 
A considerable number of sober, serious, tender people were in 
attendance, whose lively sensible spirits enabled a poor preach- 
er, to get along in his religious exercise to some satisfaction. 
Dined with my brother-in-law, T. S., where I met with the 
life of Henry Hull, a minister among Orthodox Friends. I 
was sorry to find I had imbibed such strong prejudices against 
the dear deceased Friend, which were strengthened by what I 
thought a perverted account of Elias Hicks, and what he call- 

14 



158 

ed the separatists. However it is quite possible tbat my strong 
prejudices were founded in a wrong spirit, or at best a sudden 
gust or change of feeling, wbicli poor sanguine creatures like 
me are liable to. 

When I read the account of that most excellent woman, 
Henry Hull's first wife, who died while he was in England, I 
felt the tenderest love and respect for her, and sympathy for 
him, expecting to see in him a man of sorrow and acquainted 
with grief: but alas! what was my disappointment, in behold- 
ing a man clothed — as it were — in purple and fine linen, in full 
pursuit of a youngish wife. Alas ! I say, for poor me, who 
cannot help thinking that such ministers have never overcome 
the '* beast, nor the image of the beast, nor the mark of the 
beast, nor the number of his name.'^ This prejudice was in- 
creased from my observations in New York Yearly Meeting 
31 years ago. His spirit towards dear old Elias Hicks ap- 
peared to me to be malignant and bitter, and was the cause of 
great discouragement to a poor, weak young man^ who thought 
be then saw in David Sands and Henry Hull^ the first efferves- 
cence of that dreadful spirit which has subsequently distracted, 
divided, and disgraced the Society of Friends. 

The inspired writers used simple but strong and descriptive 
figures, in speaking of the inconsistencies of high professors. 
*' As dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send 
forth an unsavory smell, so doth a little folly those that are ac- 
counted wise;'' and 1 have been and am still under a sad temp- 
tation, at times, to feel malignant and bitter at those wrong- 
headed enthusiasts, that appear to me to be using every effort 
to destroy the harmony of Society, and should I give way to 
the temptation, I should be worse than they are. I therefore 
feel it my religious duty fervently to pray to my heavenly Fa- 
ther, for power to withstand the temptation, and to experience 
those angry feelings to be resolved into sorrow, like my divine 
Master, when he looked round upon such unbelievers " with an- 
ger, being grieved fur the hardness of their hearts.'' Oh ! 
that I may be preserved from the indulgence of this gall of 
bitterness, and bond of iniquity, whose abundant fruits furnish 
the enemies of Christianity with their most formidable argu- 
ments against it. 

22d. This day my son and daughter from New York, came 
to see us, and notwithstanding I love them dearly, and their 



159 

dear little children, Sarah and Edward,— -yet my favorite, 
my darling, my dear little Phoebe Ann, is no more, for this 
sorrow fills ray heart, and my eyes overflow with tears, while I 
rejoice ever more, and in every thing give thanks. 

23d. A day of qaietness and ease, but I fear of too much 
idleness to have been profitably spent. 

24^/?,. First day of the week. Our meeting was large and 
the silent part of it instructive. A short feeling communica- 
tion from my dear younger sister E. S., appeared to bring so- 
lemnity over the meeting, but my own long labored discourse, 
may have done more hurt than good, by offending some and 
tiring (^thers. 

2btJi. A day of peace and poverty. The dwelling of my 
soul seemed on the barren heath of the wil lerness, where there 
was neither dew, nor rain, nor fields of offerings ; while my 
outward man is comfortable having the agreeable company of 
my dear son and daughter, John and Susan Carle, with their 
children from New York. 

2Qth. Nothing has transpired that needs notice, except a very 
warm day and night, almost the height of summer's heat, with 
much lightning and thunder and the grumbling of ungrate- 
ful mortals about the wet weather, grudging the flies their Siiare 
of the abundant growth of wheat. 

27tJL. Our select Quarterly Meeting at Buckingham. The 
day being unfavorable, it was rather small, and to me the first 
part excjedingly hard and dry; but after wrestling with the 
angel of Grod's presence, like Jacob, the day dawne 1, and my 
poor soul was so fur blesssed as to be able to cry, "Abba, Fath- 
er;" and I had a precious silent opportunity. 

2Sth. The general Quarterly Meeting. A great concourse 
of people, being many more than the house could hold, but 
Friends were relieved in part by the kindness of an Abolition 
lecturer that held a meeting in the woods, near the meeting 
house, and the favor would have been appreciated more by me, 
if he had taken all our noisy, troublesome members ; but three 
or four eloquent orators and cunning artificers were left to 
worry Friends, and try our patience. However, the meeting 
was so much better than I had anticipated, that I felt thank- 
ful, whilst I was favored to set an example of silence, and I 
thought I saw and felt the cause which led my dear deceased 
kinsman to avoid making frequent use of the term Saviour, 



160 

or Christy in his communications. A Friend in the minis- 
try that I love, made use of the terms ^^ blessed Saviour" 
and '^ Christ/' in such a way as to be exceedingly painful to 
my feelings; while others appeared to avoid the terms with a 
selfish caution, equally painful. Alas ! I thought no marvel 
that dear old Elias felt the concern to avoid those terms, at a 
time when Friends were joining with priests and politicians 
in Bible societies, &c., making use of those sacred terms with 
a superstitious selfishness, that might be more abominable in 
the divine sight, than profane swearing; and although our 
dear old friend, in his zeal to shun one fatal rock, might have 
run too near the other, I am abundantly persuaded, were he 
now living, at the age of seventy years, he would be the first 
man that would come out against these superficial Quakers, 
that are trying to make him their patron saint on the subject 
of slavery; while they are joining with idle lawyers, broken 
down politicians, and hireling lecturers, in a conspiracy against 
the doctrine and discipline of the Society of Friends — aiming 
their deadliest shafts at that religious committee of care, called 
^^ Select Meeting" — which Elias considered the key-stone of the 
arch of our religious order, and said if it was taken out the 
Society would fall. Could it be possible that such a man could 
have any unity with such inconstant members, who are in- 
creasing their folly by a fanatical scruple against rising in the 
time of public prayer. No, that excellent man would view 
them in the same light that Fox, Penn and Barclay did John 
Perrot, Wilkinson, and Story, who tried to subvert and destroy 
our early Friends. Indeed, the present prospect is very dis- 
couraging as to the preservation of order and harmony in our 
Quarterly Meeting, for the ultra-reformers seem determined to 
go all lengths, to carry their point in subverting discipline^ 
and introducing something like the anarchy of the Ranters. 
But should they succeed, and produce universal confusion, I 
still have a hope that out of it order will arise, and the truly 
pious souls of every party will take their places as fixed stars. 
in the firmament of God's poivevy while all these eccentric 
meteors will sink undistinguished in the common mass of un- 
digested matter. 

Having adverted to our dear deceased friend E. H., I have 
been thinking that were he now living, seeing the state his 
professed friends had got into, by running into the sad extreme 



161 

of inconsistency, he would be most likely to make free use of 
the terms ^^ Saviour" and "Christ," and boldly and powerfully 
assert the authenticity of the Holy Scriptures, in opposition 
to Hannah Barnard's speculations, revived by J. J. and others, 
to which I know he was very much opposed; and unite in 
sentiment with his old substantial friends, especially J. C, 
who declared, in our late select Yearly Meeting, there was two 
parties among us, and they were both wrong. 

2%th. My kind friend M.J. loaned me a book given to her 
by her father, E, K., who set a high value on it, telling his 
daughter it was worth one hundred and fifty dollars; and as 
E. is a friend I love much, I began reading said book pre- 
possessed in its favor ; and although I have read but little, I have 
almost come to this conclusion — it is a little like our wheat 
fields ) there appears to be a great deal of good wheat, with 
now and then a bunch of cockle with its blue blossom peering 
out from among the wheat, and by a close examination the 
wheat will be found considerably injured by the fly, with too 
much nasty cheat among it. The cockle I shall call ortho- 
doxy; the fly, self-righteousness; and the cheat, disbelief, hy- 
pocrisy, and infidelity. 

I shall only paraphrase on three excellent pieces or articles 
in this compilation of tracts published by orthodox Friends — 
The dying sayings of James Pemberton ; A striking instance 
of H. Gr., a lovely young woman of Philadelphia, and William 
Cowper's account of his brother John. 

The fii'st writer appeared to me to have too much of that 
orthodox spirit, that would convert sacred things into some- 
thing like a dagger, to smite a brother under the fifth rib. 
James Pemberton is made to say, when near his close, "I have 
nothing to trust in but the merits of the Redeemer,'' and that 
the " mediatorship of the Son our Lord and Saviour Jesus 
Christ, was not enough inculcated in our meetings." I wish 
distinctly to be understood that I do not apply orthodoxy to 
the mere expressions, as I understand them, but to the spirit 
in which they were written, and more especially as they were 
published to serve a ijarty purpose : for it is too well known 
that Orthodox Friends have been in the practice of ransacking 
the acts and sayings of early and modern Friends, for matter 
to support their unkind and unjust charges of infidelity against 
some of the best of their brethren and sisters, and they appear 

14* 



162 

to have been sadly put to it, wlien they garbled from the dying 
sayings of the mere wreck of a great man. 

I have been credibly informed that James Pemberton — who 
had been a great Quaker politician, and Speaker of the House 
of Assembly — in his dotage would speak in meetings for 
business, where his communications were not approved of nor 
united with by some of the leading Friends of Philadelphia } 
and yet when that dotage, or the imbecility of extreme old 
age, must have increased, these same Friends can make use of 
his dying sayings, for a party-serving purpose — especially in 
publishing them in the tract referred to. Now the sacred 
terms "Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ/' ^'Redeemer/' 
^' Mediator,'' &c., are precious to my soul, and I feel it my 
duty to use them, when clothed with the power of the Gospel y 
and when I have heard them used in the same power, they 
have drawn tears of thankfulness and gratitude from my eyes, 
; nd my spirit has been grieved and burthened when I have 
heard the term Jesus substituted in their place, in the same 
party-serving selfish spirit of Orthodoxy, which formerly almost 
deluged Christendom in blood, by these breakers of the third 
commandment, which says, " Thou shalt not take the name of 
the Lord thy God in vain.'' 

These spirits among Friends are what I compare to cockle 
in our wheat fields, and their flowery speeches and writings to 
the beautiful blue blossom of the noxious weed, which in its 
natural process terminates in a hard, black, poisonous seed, 
which, if not blown away with the chaff" of the summer's 
threshing floor, must be burnt with unquenchable fire. 

I will now notice the interesting and deeply instructive ac- 
count of the conversion and happy close of that lovely young 
woman, H. G., of Philadelphia, written apparently by an Or- 
thodox or Methodist minister among Friends. This beautiful 
piece, which I read with the deepest interest and feeling, ap- 
peared to me like one of our best fields of wheat, where the 
ravages of the fly could not be seen until one went into it. 
The writer appears to have felt so great a concern for this ex- 
traordinary young woman, as to unburthen his mind by writing 
a letter to her, and, after she was taken sick, called at the 
house one evening, in hopes of being invited into her chamber, 
but was disappointed. Whether it was the disappointment, or 
what it was, I cannot say, but he certainly appears to me to 



talk to her mother more like a zealous young Methodist min- 
ister, than an humble, experienced Friend ; and can we not see 
something like the fly among the wheat, or a little self- 
righteousness? The next we hear of our friend he appears 
very glad that the young woman sent for him, and, to use his 
own words, ^' I gladly obeyed the summons ;" and his own ac- 
count o4the interview, how he talked and how he made a 
prayer, presented to my mind something very much like the 
ravages of the fly, in some of our most beautifully looking 
wheat fields. I, too, have often been sent for to visit the sick, 
the sorrowful, the dying, but I do not remember that I ever 
gladly obeyed the summons, especially of later years. I might 
have felt the temptation to be self-righteous, for I am naturally 
very proud, but in most cases, I think I may say with thank- 
fulness, the temptation to self-righteousness was superceded by 
self abasement; and I have entered the chamber of such pre- 
cious souls as were washing a JSaviour's feet with tears of re- 
pentance, with sorrowful sympathy; and when entered, instead 
of talking and praying, like my Orthodox Friend, I could only 
weep and pray secretly, in solemn silence. Yes, the Lord 
knoweth that I have often entered the chambers of sickness 
and death, with fear and trembling, under a sense of my un- 
worthiness and unfitness to appear in the presence of one whom 
a Saviour was washing in the laver of regeneration, fearing 
lest I should put forth an unsanctified hand to assist in the 
heavenly work, and, like too many Orthodox ministers, leave 
the print of my dirty fingers. But I suppose I would be told 
this weakness was owing to a want of belief in the meints of a 
Kedeemer, or the ^ro'pitiatory sacrifice made eighteen hundred 
years ago, without the gates of Jerusalem ; and in not inculca- 
ting the mediatorsMp of the Son sufficiently, in our religious 
meetings. Well, if it is so, there must certainly have been a 
deficiency in my Quaker education, for I have no recollection 
that my dear old adopted Christian mother ever made use of 
such words; nor do I remember to have heard such doctrines 
preached in our religious meetings by dear James Simpson, 
William Blakey, Oliver Paxson, and other dear Friends that 
were as spiritual fathers to me, when I first appeared as a min- 
ister among them. I was therefore taught to believe, with 
dear George Fox, that Christ had come to teach and to save 
his people himself, as an omnipresent Saviour, agreeably to his 



164 

own blessed promise, ^^ If any man love me he will keep my 
words, and my Father will love him, and we will come nnto 
him and make our abode with him" — and again, ^' He that 
hath my commandments and keepeth them, he itisthatloveth 
me, and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I 
will love him, and manifest myself to him." 

I forbear to go any further into the boundless field* of doc- 
trinal disquisition, and only add, that I read the last piece or 
tract referred to, with tears in my eyes and love in my heart 
for that dear young woman, who, having washed her Saviour's 
feet with the tears of repentance, wiping them as it were with 
the hairs of her head, and having in the depths of humility, felt 
the overflowing of that heavenly love that could kiss his feet — her 
Saviour freely forgave her her sins, however numerous, for she 
loved much; and if the writer should suffer the destructive fly 
of self-righteousness to continue its ravages in his soul, he may 
turn out in the end, I fear, like too many of our wheat fields 
in this year, 1846, not worth the gathering. 

I will hasten to finish my paraphrase by a few short remarks 
on that Christian poet William Cowpei*'s account of his brother 
John, who it appears was a professed minister of the Gospel, 
of the established church of England — a very learned man, a 
very popular minister, who was flattered to the highest pitch ; 
a perfect modern gentleman, living in idleness and luxury, on 
a rich salary, drawn from the vitals of the poor. This man, 
at the very time that he was ofliciating as a minister of the 
Gospel of Christ, was living without God in the world, ac- 
cording to his own confession upon his death bed, and was 
trying, or wishing to establish himself in Deism. Hear 
his own words : " I was just beginning to be a Deist, and had 
long desired to be so ', and I will own to you, my brother, 
what I never confessed before, that my function and the duties 
of it were a weariness to me which I could not bear, yet, 
wretched creature as I was, I was esteemed religious, although 
I lived without God in the world. '^ This is a confession from 
one of the worst of sinners, for I cannot conceive of any thing 
so abominably wicked as such a clerical hypocrite, unless it is 
an unbelieving Quaker minister ; and 1 sincerely wish that all 
such hireling ministers — and I fear ninety-nine out of a hun- 
dred are such — could be brought to the same state of sorrow 
for their sins, that there may be joy in heaven oyqy mani/ sin- 
ners that repent. 



165 

This excellent narrative of Cowper's is well wortli reading :- 
it is worth more than my dear friend E. K. said the whole 
book was worth ; for if it confirms my prejudices against these 
wretched hirelings, it justifies Friends in faithfully hearing 
their ancient, honorable, and truly Christian testimony, against 
a set of men who at best will be found like a wheat field that 
has more cheat than wheat. Happy was it for poor John 
Cowper, that these tares were burnt up before he went to final 
judgment. 

SOth. Kead the life of Thomas Shillitoe, an English Friend, 
for whom I had had a high esteem for many years, but whose 
missionary services in this country lessened that esteem, more 
especially his unchristian conduct towards my dear old friends 
Elias Hicks and Elisha Dawson, and I have been ready to con- 
clude it would have been better for him if he had never left 
his own country, because he would have been more like his 
divine Master, who never had a concern to visit kings and 
emperors, potentates and priests, or even to travel out of the 
land of Judea, although he could walk on the waters. If, 
then, the example of the Saviour is to be respected, and if he 
and his first disciples never visited potentates, or high priests, 
only when dragged there to be persecuted, what great value 
can the admirers of Thomas Shillitoe and Daniel Wheeler at- 
tach to their extensive missionary labors, that cannot with 
equal propriety be attached to the far more extensive and suc- 
cessful missionary labors of Ignatius Loyola, and John Adam 
Schall, the great missionary to China, whose sufferings and 
privations were far greater. I will therefore respect and love 
Thomas Shillitoe and Daniel Wheeler, just as far as they say 
by their spirit and example, " follow us as we follow Christ,^^ 
and no farther ; for it is sealed with renewed instruction on 
my mind, that every sect of professing Christians has suff'ered 
irreparable loss, just in proportion as it has departed from the 
precepts and example of Christ, the great head of the Christian 
Church, the perfect pattern of everlasting righteousness : and 
what better authority has Thomas Shillitoe, Daniel Wheeler, 
and others, for their extensive missionary labors, than those 
devoted missionaries thus referred to by a late and eminent 
English writer : ^^ In spite of oceans and deserts, of hunger 
and pestilence, of spies and penal laws, of dungeons and racks, 
of gibbets and quartering-blocks, Jesuits were to be found, 



1G6 

nuder every disguise, and in every country — scholars, phy- 
sicians, merchants, serving-men, in the hostile court of Swe- 
den, in the old manor houses of Cheshire, among the hovels of 
Connaught; arguing, instructing, consoling, stealing away the 
hearts of the young, animating the courage of the timid, hold- 
ing up the crucifix before the eyes of the d^dng. The old 
world was not wide enough for this strong activity. The 
Jesuits invaded all countries which the great maritime dis- 
coveries of a preceding age had laid open to European enter- 
prise. In the depths of Peruvian mines, at the marts of the 
African slave caravans, on the shores of the Spice Islands, in 
the observatories of China, they were to be found. They made 
converts in regions which neither avarice nor curiosity had 
tempted any of their countrymen to enter ; and preached and 
disputed in tongues of which no other native of the west un- 
derstood a word.'^ Should these remarks ever be read by an 
Orthodox Friend, he may feel oiFended to think that I would 
presume to compare dear Thomas Shillitoe and Daniel Wheeler 
to Roman Catholic missionaries, and the devout Catholic may 
be still more offended at the attempt to make it appear that a 
Quaker preacher, whom he verily believes to be a poor, ignorant, 
insignificant heretic, is fit to be compared to that great apos- 
tolic father of the order of Jesus, Ignatius Loyola, or Mathew 
Kicci, the Catholic star of the east ; while the truly humble, 
meek believer in the divine Saviour, may rest satisfied with 
the words or testimony of eternal truth respecting missionaries, 
'^ Wo unto you scribes and pharisees, hypocrites, ye would 
compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is 
made ye make him two-fold more the child of hell.'^ 

It has been upon my mind for several days past, to write a 
short memorial respecting our dear deceased friend Hannah 
Parker, a minister in good unity and high esteem with Friends 
of Makefield Monthly Meeting, and many others. She was 
the daughter of William and Mary Parker. Her mother was 
of an Irish Presbyterian family named Johnson, among the 
earliest settlers of this neighborhood. Her parents being poor, 
Hannah was put early to work in the kitchens of the more 
wealthy, notwithstanding the feebleness of her constitution. 
When Friends were permitted first to hold a religious meeting 
in the old Court House, near thirty years ago, she was among 
the children that attended regularly on First days, but claimed 



167 

no particular notice for several years. At last it was perceived 
that she had changed her dress, little by little, until she was 
observed in the character of a plain little girl, attending our 
midweek meetings. x\bout this time the Presbyterians had 
got a new minister, a fine looking young widower, of course a 
great favorite with weak women. Agreeably to clerical policy, 
he set himself about reviving his congregation, and finding 
Hannah and her family belonged to no particular society, he 
no doubt felt it his duty to reclaim her from the errors of her 
way, making use of her mother as a principal instrument in 
the concern ; and, although Hannah was remarkable for her 
silent, unobtrusive conduct, it appears that she was persecuted 
in the house of her professed friends, or led by their mistaken 
zeal into the street called Strait, where, like Saul of Tarsus, 
she prayed. During this dispensation of affliction, while her 
poor body appeared to be hastening to an untimely grave by 
pulmonary consumption, her immortal soul was deeply exer- 
cised in the school of Christ. Having laid for some days and 
nights without taking notice or nourishment, she was thought 
by her family and physician to be near her end, when she re- 
vived, and, making signs to her mother — for she could not 
speak, but in a low whisper — she began to tell her what won- 
ders she had seen and felt ; and as her strength increased, she 
spoke to her brothers and sisters, and such of her neighbors 
as came to see her, in a remarkable manner : and when she 
had so far recovered as to attend our meetings, she publicly 
espoused the cause of her Redeemer, who had thus wonderfully 
raised her up as a monument of his adorable mercy and good- 
ness. She then made application to be received into member- 
ship with Friends, and was received with open arms, and soon 
after opened a concern to visit the families of our Monthly 
Meetings, which was united with, and she set at liberty, and 
assisted in the concern ; and it is the testimony of my heart, 
that a more precious visit was never paid, since nor before. 
Her gift as a minister was brought before our Monthly Meet- 
ing, agreeable to our excellent order, and fully acknowledged 
and united with. Indeed, it was a wonderful gift, for it ap- 
peared to stand distinct and separate from two of the idols of 
a fallen world, natural talents and learning, and therefore it 
might be said of her, in some degree, as William Penn said of 
George Fox — she was all of Grod Almighty's own making. 



168 

Had Ker strengtli of body been commensurate witb the spiritual 
energies of her soul, she might have appeared one of the most 
dignified servants or handmaids of the Lord, that has ever 
been in our Society. But her poor body was, comparatively 
speaking, a mere shadow, or a compound of weakness ; never- 
theless, she performed several religious visits, and one as far 
as Virginia, leaving seals, wherever she went, of a true Gospel 
spirit. There is one circumstance which continues to present 
itself while I am writing. Hannah attended the funeral of a 
Methodist neighbor, and was led, I thought, to speak in a 
clear and powerful manner — opening some interesting Gospel 
truths that came in contact with some of the dogmas of the 
Presbyterian minister, who, being prejudiced against Hannah, 
made public opposition in a language like this : "If the doc- 
trine we have heard is true, 1 should have no more hope of 
salvation than the devils, and damned in hell;'' and other ex- 
pressions, beneath the dignity of the Christian, or even the gen- 
tleman. He had scarcely finished, when a proposition was 
made to move to the grave-yard, and whilst I was filling the 
grave, I again heard the voice of our friend, in a language 
like this, "I have no controversy with these people," meaning 
the priests, " but the Lord has, and will call them to a solemn 
reckoning ; it is only for me to address them in the pertinent 
language of the apostle, ^ Oh, full of all subtility and all mis- 
chief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, 
how long is it ere thou wilt cease to pervert the right ways of 
the Lord / " and more to the same effect, which I forbear to 
give, lest my recollection should not be strictly correct. In a 
word, poor Hannah Parker was a most extraordinary minister. 
I have no recollection of ever hearing her misquote scripture, 
or, according to my little knowledge, make a grammatical blun- 
der, and to me she was one of the sweetest preachers 1 ever 
heard ; and the peculiar circumstances of her life not only give 
incontestible evidence of the power of the principle professed 
by Friends, but would furnish rich materials to a ready writer, 
for a memorial that might be worth reading — as for me, I can 
only give a rough sketch. It appears that her bodily powers, 
owing to a feeble constitution, could not be sustained without 
a continual miracle j she therefore gradually sunk under her 
infirmities till she was pretty much confined to her bed, several 
years before she died ; and notwithstanding the kindness and 



169 

attention of Friends to the poor, slie suffered a complication of 
troubles, in addition to her sleepless nights and wearisome 
days ; but in the midst of all, her head appeared to be kept 
above the rollings of the tempestuous billows, and the feet of 
her mind fiimly fixed upon the rock of the Israel of God, and 
if only a few of her comforting and encouraging expressions 
were recorded, it would extend this memorial to too great a 
length : suffice it to say, that the last expressions I ever heard 
from her, gave me more encouragement than any thing of the 
kind I ever heard before or since. Poor, dear Hannah, she 
appeared to drink deeply of the cup of suffering her Saviour 
drank of, for, like Hi7n, she was pretty much forsaken by all 
her family, but her dear mother ; although a Presbyterian, 
there appeared to be that unchangeable union of love, that I 
trust has united their spirits in the mansions of eternal glory. 
And will it be too much to say that, in some degree, like her 
blessed Saviour ^ towards the last of her sufferings she was al- 
most constrained to cry out '^ Eloiy Eloi, lama sahactliani ;" 
which might have caused some of her secret enemies to wag 
their heads with that horrible satisfaction that characterised 
the enemies of a suffering Saviour, in beholding the effect of 
that depression which frequently precedes the extinction of 
animal life — especially the life of a poor weak woman. Not- 
withstanding all this, had she been the daughter of the Honor- 
able J. J., or even the grand-daughter of the more venerable 
J. W., there would have been petty poets enough to make her 
an angel, or hireling newspaper scribblers sufficient to make 
her a saint. But as she was the daughter of poor William 
and Mary Parker, brought up in the path of humble industry, 
with natural talents scarcely standing at mediocrity, and with 
hardly school learning enough to read and write — and so poor, 
as to this world, that like her divine Master, she had not where 
to lay her head — it has fallen to the lot of her poor illiterate 
brother in religious fellowship, to write this short memorial of 
one of the most extraordinary ministers that ever belonged to 
the Society of Friends. 

Having been led into the remembrance of some of my dear 
deceased friends, I will here notice that excellent man, John 
Stapler, the elder, who was an elder indeed, worthy of double 
honor, for he was a practical philanthropist, who not only felt 
for the oppressed Indian and African, but for his poor 

15 



170 

fellow ereatureSj in the circle of which he moved, especially 
such as were in debt and difficulty, and tried to persuade the 
rich creditor to lower his interest or usury to three per cent ; 
at least to the j)oor, declaring that he doubted the consistency 
of a Christian taking usury from his poor brother, — seeing it 
was positively forbidden in the Holy Scriptures. This worthy 
man, by endeavoring to relieve the oppressed debtor, not only 
involved himself in serious difficulties with money mongers, 
but was too often treated with ingratitude by the very persons 
he had exerted himself to relieve. But the emphatical man- 
ner in which I have heard him express his forgiveness of his 
enemies, the religious care that he observed not to speak evil 
of any, — the promptitude and honesty with which he pointed 
out to his friends, privately, their faults, their failings and con- 
sequent danger, proved him to be a compound of the gentle- 
man and the practical Chrisian. His wife Hannah, was like^ 
wise an elder, and appeared to me one of those silent and 
loving women (described by the inspired poet,) whose price is 
far above rubies, a woman whose husband praised her, while 
sitting in the gates amongst the elders of the land, — ^a woman 
whose children now rise up and call her blessed ; remembering 
that she opened her mouth with wisdom^ and in her tongue was 
the law of kindness. Thomas Stapler was brother to John, 
and in the language of the English poet — one of '^ the noblest 
works of God,'' for he was ^' an honest man." His wife 
Achsah, was like her sister Hannah, one of the excellent of the 
earth, and an elder indeed. 

Joseph Taylor was a worthy elder, and but for his entire loss 
of hearing, which abridged his usefulness, he might have been 
worthy of double honor, for his friends loved him very much, 
— he being an example of the believers in meekness — in up- 
rightness — in faith, and in purity. His brother, William Tay- 
lor, was a minister highly esteemed and beloved by Friends and 
others, and, although Makefield Monthly Meeting has publish- 
a memorial respecting him, I cannot pass by him without an- 
other expression of my great love and unity with him. His 
interesting widow and daughters are amongst my nearest and 
dearest of kind neighbors. Jacob Cadwallader was an elder and 
a brother-in-law to the foregoing Friends, and appeared to be a 
sweet spirited, tender hearted Friend, who well understood 
what is called the eleventh commandment, ^^ every man mind 



171 

Vis owa business." He likewise possessed some of the best 
qualifications of a bishop, vigilant, sober, of good behavior — 
given to hospitality — not given to wine — no striker — not greedy 
of filthy lucre, but patient — not a brawler — not covetous — 
laaving a good report of them that are without. 

^^ Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole 
world, there shail also that this woman hath done be told for 
a memorial of her,'' see Mathewj 26th chap. 13th verse. The 
life of the worthy and venerable Eachael Paxson, who died 
in the 8th month 1842, at her residence in this township, in 
tlie 95th year of her age, furnishes a powerful and practical 
argument in favor of following the Divine Saviour in the path 
of humble industry. We are informed in the Holy Scriptures 
that when the infinitely wise Jehovah was pleased to manifest 
Himself in the fulness, and present to a world of intelligent 
beings a perfect pattern of everlasting righteousness in the per- 
son of his beloved Son, that pattern was found walking in 
the path of humble industry, preaching the doctrine with 
indubitable clearness, that the wayfaring pilgrim, though a fool 
as to the wisdom of this world, may walk in the Truth and not 
err. '^Seest thou this woman V She was left near fifty years 
ago, by a loving and faithful husband, the object of her youth- 
ful afiections, a sorrowful widow, with a large family of little 
daughters, and an infant son in her arms. Like too many poor 
widows she was left with a little property encumbered with 
debt : and, what added to her affliction, she was advised by 
those she thought her best friends, to sell off and break up 
housekeeping. Thus she would have been deprived of a home, 
sbe must have put out her poor little daughters to receive their 
education in the kitchens of the rich, where such children are 
too often neglected, if not exposed to bad company and hard treat- 
ment, while she herself and her little son might have had to seek 
an asylum under the hospitable roof of some kind relative, or 
been coldly assisted by her friends. This kind of advice, 
however honest the intentions of the counsellors, has proved, I 
fear, a serious injury to too many poor widows and orphans, 
who with a little encouragement might have done better, was 
not to be taken by this woman. She had been brought up 
in the path of humble industry, and being now introduced 
into the school of affliction, she asked counsel of her Divine 
Master, who encouraged her to exercise the energies of her 



172 

body and powerful mind, in that path that is cast up for the just 
man, and which is compared to the luminous orb that rises in 
the hemisphere and shines with increasing splendor, till it '* ar- 
rives at the meridian altitude of a glorious and perfect day." 
Thus encouraged, she sold the best part of the land with all the 
buildings, and honestly paid the debt, or so reduced it that she 
could get along. By the most indefatigable exertions, she 
raised an humble dwelling on the poorest part of the land, 
where, by the wonderful power of industry, she kept her little 
family together, fed, clothed and schooled them ; for this wo- 
man had recognized in the character of a mother, a responsibil- 
ity that could not be delegated. Hence the great concern she 
felt to take care of those lambs herself, that were given her '^ in 
the wilderness of this world, by the everlasting Shepherd and 
Bishop of souls.'' Dear widows, be encouraged in beholding the 
life of THIS WOMAN, and lift up your heads in hope, for the same 
Shepherd of Israel that sleeps not by day nor slumbers by 
night, continues to watch over poor widows that are '' widows 
indeed," that faithfully follow him in the path of humble in- 
dustry — speaking peace to their afflicted souls, as he spoke 
through the mouth of his prophets formerly : "^ Oh thou af- 
flicted, tossed with tempests and not comforted, — behold I 
will lay thy stones with fair colors, and lay thy foundations 
with sapphires, and I will make thy windows of agates, and thy 
gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones, 
and all thy children shall be taught of the Lord, and great shall 
be the peace of thy children.'' 

This promise was remarkably fulfilled in the family of this 
WOMAN ; she lived to see her children respectably raised 
and five of her daughters happily married ; her grand children 
and great grand children coming up after her in the nurture and 
admonition of the Lord. She lived to witness what few widows 
have ever known — her only son foregoing the alluring enjoy- 
ments in the ways of men, to devote himself with every en- 
dearing attention to his precious mother, by which her latter 
days were rendered as peaceful and happy as they could be 
in this world. Indeed, no serious and reflecting mind could visit 
this ^' Elect Lady" with her children, and be in possession of 
her little history, without being renewedly convinced of the great 
importance of following the blessed Saviour in the path of 
HUMBLE industry — a path that not only leads to the enjoy- 



173 

ment of rational happiness in this world, but everlasting hap- 
piness in the world to come. For a better description of a per- 
fect woman, the reader is referred to the inspired poetry in the 
last chapter of Proverbs, ''Many daughters have done virtuous- 
ly, but thou excellest them all.'' 

I could notice many other valuable Friends of Makefield 
Monthly Meeting, but I shall close with a short account of my 
dear deceased aunt, Margaret T. Hicks, a minister, who stood 
high, not only with Friends of Makefield, but with Bucks 
Quarter. Fler maiden name was Thomas, and I think she 
was a native of Long Island, and a distant relation to her hus- 
band, and, according to her own account, had been a wild, 
wayward girl, extremely fond of music and dancing. She mar- 
ried my uncle, Joseph Rodman Hicks, a very handsome 
young man, whose constitutional eccentricity, disqualified him 
from filling, with perfect propriety, his social and relative du- 
ties ; and hence his wife, as a matter of course, was intro- 
duced into the street called Strait, or in other words, into a 
state of suffering and sorrow, which was so sanctified to her, 
through the eternal power of truth, that the scales fell from 
her spiritual eyes, and' she saw the way the ransomed in Jacob 
and the redeemed in Israel must walk in, and taking up the 
cross of Christ, she pressed forward towards the crown, which 
she found was not to be obtained but through humble obe- 
dience. Griving up at last to the heavenly vision, a dispensa- 
tion of the gospel was committed to her, in which she witness- 
an enlargement, and became an able minister, that might say 
in the language of the apostle, '* I was made a minister ac- 
cording to gift of the grace of God, given unto me by the ef- 
fectual working of his power ; to me, who am less than the 
least of all saints, was this grace given, that I might preach 
among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ." In- 
deed she was a precious minister to me, and a very dear mo- 
ther in our Israel, whom I loved much. In the decline of life she 
had to drink deeply of the cup of gall mixed with wormwood, 
following to the grave her husband and six of her children, after 
they were grown up. Being thus stript, she took up her resi- 
dence with her only son Charles, in Philadelphia, where she 
continued to live until she was between eighty and ninety years 
of age, closing her earthly pilgrimage in the innocence of a lit- 

15* 



174 

tie child, and I hope she has landed safe on that happy 
and peaceful shore, in that eternal land of rest where sorrow is 
unknown. 

I have thus endeavored to give a little hiographical sketch of 
some of the active members of Makefield, in the days of our pros- 
perity, when all the wiles and stratagems of cunning and Ortho- 
doxy could not break our ranks or destroy our unity. Not one of 
our select members went with them, and only two obscure fami- 
lies in the whole Monthly Meeting. 

This Monthly Meeting was first opened in the 6th month, 
1820. The Friends who sat in the galleries at Makefield at 
that time are all dead, both men and women, but on the men's 
side at Newtown, one minister and two elders are still living. 
But oh, how solemn the consideration that they must, in the 
course of nature, soon go ; for thus it is ordered in the immu- 
table wisdom of an omnipotent Creator, that one generation of 
men and women should go and another come, and that even 
our meeting houses should be evacuated and replenished by 
troops of succeeding pilgrims. 

31s^. First day — a dull day and a dull meeting, owing on 
my part, I fear, to spiritual indolence, or my mind being like 
theinn we read of in the New Testament, which was so 
filled with finer guests, there was no room for a Saviour. 

Qth month 1st. Seriously thoughtful about talking too much , 
I have been favored to keep silent in our meetings for busi- 
ness, touching the unsettlement and confusion among us. I 
wish I could be more silent out of meeting, and more engaged 
in secret prayer, that the Lord would spare his people and no 
longer give his heritage to reproach. 

2d. Communicated the above feelings and exercise to my 
dear younger brother in the ministry, J. M. S., hoping they 
may be useful to him. 

id. Spent in reading and writing. There are certainly many 
most excellent pieces among the tracts published by Orthodox 
Friends. I could have wished they had not tried to imitate 
the priests in their mode of expression, nor had, what I fear, 
so much selfish design in the selection of their matter; how- 
ever, I may be too jealous, and therefore judge them wrong- 
fully. I will therefore leave it to Him who knows the secrets 
of our hearts. 



175 

4^7i. Our Monthly Meeting at Newtown. I opened a pros- 
pect to my friends of paying a religious visit to all the Quar- 
terly Meetings in our Yearly Meetingj including the half-year's 
Meeting at Fishing creek ; and, if way opened, to appoint some 
meetings and visit some families. My concern was taken hold 
of by the meeting and generally united with, — the women with- 
out a dissenting voice ; but two ultra reformers cavilled while 
the concern was before men Friends, and after it was settled 
and a minute prepared, and I had left the meeting, one of 
them came out with an expression of disunity. They might 
both be right, for had they expressed unity and sympathy, they 
might have heaped, as it were, coals of fire on my head, for I 
certainly had no unity with them, and our difference must be 
left to be settled by a higher tribunal. I do not know but 
what L. M., that talented creature in Philadelphia, has done 
more towards destroying the unity of our Monthly Meeting, 
than Jonathan Evans with all his influence as a ruling elder, 
could do twenty years ago ; for he only got two silent satellites, 
while she appeared to have two of our most chattering 
members. 

5^A. "Went to Middletown Monthly Meeting, and had a feast 
of fat things, with wine on the lees well refined. Dear J. C. 
was there and preached the everlasting gospel, comforting and 
encouraging my poor soul, more than all the preaching I have 
heard this seven years, my own included. Dined with him at 
P. M.'s and parted with him in the tendering cementing power 
of Eternal T^^utli. The subject matter on which he was led 
to speak, was the state of Hezekiah, king of Judah, when he 
was besieged by an impious and blasphemous enemy. His 
preservation and deliverance was brought about by prayer and 
silence. Oh ! that Friends could be instructed by what ^^ was 
written aforetime for our learning, that we through patience and 
comfort of the scriptures might have hope.'' True Christians, 
according to my view, are now the Israel of Grod. The 
Christian part of the Society of Friends, are now beseiged by, 
what I fear I may call, an impious, if not a blasphemous spirit. 
I was therefore rejoiced to find ray dear friend J. C. united 
with me — that our safety and deliverance depended upon our 
rallying to our distinguishing position — SiLENCE in the house 
of prayer ; answer them not a word. 



176 

%th. A day of comparative idleness and ease, with but little 
if any improvement in best things. 

" Count that day lost whose low descending sun ^ 

Sees from thy hand no worthy action done." 

*lth. First-day a large meeting, but it was not one of my 
good silent meetings, for I was led into a communication, 
which appeared to me rather an insignificant concern. Had 
the company of Sally Janney, wife of my dear friend Phineas 
Janney, from Alexandria, Silas Edson and wife, from Phila- 
delphia, and all my children and grand-children, to dinner : it 
was indeed a social and rational enjoyment, but I had to leave 
them to attend an appointed meeting at Banner Knowl's, 
eight or nine miles up the Delaware. My dear young friends, 
J. M. S. and wife, went with me. A large concourse of peo- 
ple were in attendance, amongst whom dear E. S. I thought 
had good service. I said a good deal, and I think it is like- 
ly to but little purpose, like all the rest of my sayings. 
However, the people behaved remarkably well, and I believe 
some thought we had a good meeting. 

^th. I fear this day has been a day of too much shackling 
idleness, for a true Christian, whose time in this world ought 
to be considered too precious to be trifled away. 

^tli. Went in the stage to Bristol, on my way to attend 
Haddonfield Quarterly Meeting, held at Medford. At Bur- 
lington, called to see Joseph Parrish, son of my dear deceased 
friend. Doctor Parrish, who is now a practising physician in 
that place. Joseph and his wife were very kind, and offered 
to take me out to their mother's, but their brother John Par- 
rish being in town by himself, I went out with him, and paid 
a visit to the venerable John Cox, a minister among Orthodox 
Friends, now in his ninety-third year. He appeared to me to 
manifest the dignity of the gentleman, with the innocence of a 
child. In the afternoon John Parrish took me to Mount 
Holly, to the house of my dear friend George Hulme. The 
children of the excellent Doctor Parrish appear to have a fair 
start in the world, at almost every point ; but alas ! methinks 
I see an enemy lurking near their path, "the friendship of the 
world,^^ that is always courting wealth and fame, and leaving 
the suffering seed to weep and lament. But perhaps the less 
I say on this subject the better, for the world appears not to be 
prepared to receive my testimony. 



177 

10th. Went in company with my dear friend George Hulme 
to the Select Quarterly Meeting, and indeed it was a precious 
meeting to me, for I was favored to be silent and to get in the 
house of prayer. Dined at the tavern, and although I fear 
my conversation, was too light and trifling, some of my friends 
thought some good was done. 

11th, Attended the general Quarterly Meeting, held in a 
beautiful new house, built and presented to Friends by the late 
valuable Benjamin Davis, of Medford. I tried to have a good 
meeting, but really I could scarcely get a crumb of bread, for 
our ministers seemed a little like school boys, playing ball, 
and appeared to me to be all the time tossing the loaf of bread 
about in the air, so that I could not seemingly get any, and 
therefore thought I had reason to complain, like the little 
Presbyterian boy did of their meetings, telling his mother that 
they would not give him time to think, and asked permission to go 
to a silent Quaker meeting. However, I was truly glad that 
I labored after heavenly bread in silence. 

12tJi, My kind friend Greorge Hulme sent me in his carriage 
to Burlington, in company with two of his cousins^ John Hulme's 
daughters, pretty little Episcopalians, who appeared to be 
pious girls. It is astonishing how successful the Orthodox 
have been, with the assistance of the priests, to fix prejudices 
in young and tender minds against Friends, and it is sorrow- 
ful to think how these prejudices are confirmed by the skepti- 
cal speculations of some of our own members. I had consi- 
derable difficulty to convince them that the religious Society 
of Friends that I belonged to, did not deny the authenticity 
of the Holy Scriptures, nor did we hold the sentiments that 
we were charged with by our enemies. In a Friend's house, 
at Bristol, I met with an Orthodox publication, in which was 
what they called an account of the heresy of Elias Hicks, and 
the separatists, a perverted, sophistical statement, designed to 
produce the prejudices above alluded to, and the writers as 
well as publishers must have been ignorant, or very wicked, 
for I know their account is false; and considering the situation 
the Orthodox are now in, they ought to be ashamed of them- 
selves, to be thus venting their spleen and bitterness on such 
Friends as dear old Elias, and John Comly. Why, I do not 
know but what the apostle Paul, if he was to read such an ac- 
count, and know as well as I do that it was false, would not 



178 

be constrained to address the writer as he did one formerly^, 
^' Oh ! full of all siibtilty, and all mischief, thou child of the 
devil, thou enemy of all righteousness ; wilt thou not cease to 
pervert the right ways of the Lord.'^ 

IZth. It is to me a sorrowful and discouraging consideration 
to behold again belligerent parties rising up among Friends. I 
thought I saw in the late Quarterly Meeting '' sorrowful symp- 
toms, big with death/' A dear brother in the ministry, whom 
I love, made use of the term ^^ blessed Saviour,^' which sound- 
ed unsavoury, while his opponent, with an eloquence that 
sounded like that of a learned clergyman and lecturer, appear- 
ed carefully to avoid the above term, and substituted that of 
Jesus, which to me was equally unsavoury, and if I am not 
mistaken in the real sentiments of the speaker, a little pro- 
fane. Understand me, the words ^'blessed Saviour and 
Jesus/' I love, and would wish to use them with rever- 
ence and a feeling hearty not for party purposes and unbe- 
lief. 

\4:t}i. First-day, had one of my most precious, silent meet- 
ings. I had craved or begged on my pillow a good silent 
meeting, and my prayer was granted in a most memorable man- 
ner; for which my soul feels gratitude, thanksgiving, and 
praise to him that sittith upon the throne, and the Lamb. My 
dear younger sister, E. S., appeared in solemn supplication, 
and although I could not hear her distinctly, it was attended 
with a precious feeling that had no fellow. 

Ibth. Engaged in my shop, working with my own hands, 
and minding my own business, studying to be quiet, and walk 
orderly amongst my neighbors, which brings sweet peace. 

l^th. Went to my dear friend Isaac Parry's, where I have 
been in the practice of visiting for nearly thirty years, and 
now that we have become connected, by the union of his 
youngest son with my youngest daughter, my visits are of course 
peculiarly pleasant. Eut Isaac and myself are growing old, 
and feel at times discouraged about the unsettled state of 
Society, ready to exclaim in the mournful language of the pro- 
phet, "By whom shall Jacob arise, for he is small?" 

yith. Diligent in business, and if I had been as fervent in 
spirit, serving the Lord, it would have been a good day with 
me; but I certainly feel deficient in heartfelt dedication to the 
great cause of my heavenly Father, and a sense of this defi- 



179 

ciency hangs as a dark curtain or cloud over my path through 
life, and if my poor soul is saved, it must be by mercy, ''infi- 
nite, adorable mercy,'' not by merit. 

ISth. Our midweek meeting, a laborious travel of spirit, 
crowned with peace, for I did not give way to the current of 
drowsiness, but breasted it with all my might, but was sorry 
to see so many goodly Friends carried along with the down- 
ward stream, having always understood that it is sick and dead 
fish that swim with the current. There was a circumstance 
occurred at our meeting to-day, which, if I am not mis- 
informed, is worthy of recording. J. J., who lives at Addis- 
ville, four miles from this, has been brought up a Presbyterian, 
though latterly dissatisfied with them, and partially convinced 
of Friends' principles, but discouraged by his family. This 
morning he says he felt it right to go to Quaker meeting, but 
being unwell, and having no way but to walk, he felt discour- 
aged ; but he thought he heard a secret voice like this, " Pre- 
sent thy body, a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God, 
which is thy reasonable duty." With this impression he came 
to meeting, in the course of which our dear E. S. was led to 
speak from the same text most feelingly and practically, which 
appears to have made a deep impression upon J. J.'s mind. 
But what it will come to I know not, for many are called but 
few are chosen, and I fear that J. J. is too much like myself, 
he talks too much. 

19t7i. Neither sick enough to lay by, nor well enough to 
work, and of course spent rather an unpleasant and unprofita- 
ble day. 

20th. Went to White Marsh to pay a social visit to my dear 
sister, Susan W. Phipps, and her husband and children; one of 
the most heavenly visits of the kind I ever paid. I say 
heavenly, fori have no recollection of ever feeling more Chris- 
tian tenderness and love than I did towards my dear sister's 
interesting family of children. 

21st. Attended their meeting at Plymouth ; went, I hope, 
in that state of mind that our Saviour pronounced^ blessed, 
when he said, '^ Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the 
kingdom of Heaven." The silent part of the meeting was a 
precious exercise to my poor soul ; but my preaching I must 
leave to others to judge of, for if I was qualified to preach 
Christ and him crucified, in my humiliation my judgment was 
taken away. 



180 

22 c?. Returned home, and on my way, attended the funeral 
of Sarah Wood, daughter of Seth Davis, an elder. She had 
scarcely been married three years. I remember attending her 
wedding : it was one of the most Christian weddings, and the 
meeting was peculiarly solemn and affecting. Her husband, 
John Wood, was the son of our worthy friend, Joseph Wood, 
an elder, all members of Horsham Monthly Meeting. The 
dear young friends had just got nicely settled, and John had 
gone to market, when dear Sarah was taken with the cramp 
cholic, and died in about an hour, leaving a child fifteen or 
sixteen months old. The circumstances of her marriage and 
settlement, were so much like my dear S. P., that it called 
into action all my tenderest feelings, awakening the deepest 
sympathy for her poor afflicted father, who appears to be now 
trembling on the brink of the grave. I could only pour forth 
my tears and prayers in silence, fearing the " cloven tongue as 
of fire," had been already sounding its bell unavailingly 
amongst them. 

2Srd. This day has been so cold that I could scarcely "work in 
my shop. In the evening was favored with a solemn exercise 
in spiritual prayer, not only for myself and family, the afflict- 
ed and suffering seed, but for the religious Society of Friends, 
who like Joseph, may be still alive, but a prisoner in Egypt, 
under a charge of having attempted to commit adultery with 
the world, and the mantle or garment that they once wore is 
produced in evidence against them, while the priests, the Or- 
thodox, and political abolitionsts, like Pharoah's General, de- 
ceived by a wicked world, are sustaining the prosecution, or 
more properly speaking are the persecutors. Oh! that the religious 
Society of Friends could keep in the everlasting patience, like 
meek innocent Joseph, witnessing the salvation of the Lord in 
bringing them out of prison, and making them as saviours on 
Mount Zion. 

24cfh. Was spent in attending to my business, and domestic 
concerns, and was favored in the evening with a sweet, tender 
spirit of prayer, which extended to the sick, sorrowful, and af- 
flicted throughout the world of mankind, for which blessed fa- 
vor my soul was filled with thanksgiving and praise. 

2^th. Our meeting day to-day. I had a good meeting, and 
was favored to keep silent. S. T., from Baltimore was with us 
and spoke I believe to general satisfaction, and our friend J. 



181 

M. S. had a few words of Grospel for ujj. In the afternoon took 
S. T. and his wife to Warminster, and on my return found a 
poor old fellow soldier, sitting by the road-side, just from the 
Alms-house; took him into the carriage and brought him to 
Newtown where he was trying to come. I felt glad that I 
could help this poor brother, who was once an honorable and 
useful carpenter in easy circumstances, and a far more useful 
and valuable citizen than ever I have been, but now separated 
from his wife and eleven children, is an offcast from society, 
dragging out the feeble remains of a miserable life, upon the 
cold hard-hearted charity of a county poor house. I was 
thankful to be favored with Christian sympathy, and a fervent 
prayer for^him to the Saviour of sinners, to whose mercy I could 
only commend him with my own poor soul. 

2Qth. Diligent in business if not fervent in spirit, fulfilling 
part of the duty of a 'Christian, which is better than to be en- 
tirely idle. Heard towards evening of the death of our cousin, 
Andrew Ashton, a man of peace and Christian propriety. Oh! 
the love and sweetness I feel for him. Happy would it be for 
the Christian world, if there were more like him. If it were 
not so far, and I so feeble, I would attend his funeral, I think 
he was an abolitionist of the right kind ; and while I am writing 
it occurs to me to give a short account of another abolitionist 
of the right kind, my namesake, Edward Hicks, of Chester 
County, who has been dead nearly thirty years, and although 
like Cowper's Cottager, he was hardly known '' a half a mile 
from home," he gave a more practical demonstration of his 
love of justice and mercy, than even the celebrated Elias Hicks. 
If I am not mistaken in my impression, he was the son of 
Charles Hicks, of Bucks County. His mother was a Kimble, 
whose father died in England, and left her some estate, part of 
which was slaves in the West Indies. She sold all but one, 
the young widow of an African king, who died soon after they 
were married. This woman she brought with her to Pennsyl- 
vania, and while at sea she was delivered of a son, which the 
mistress called County Cornwall, after the place she came 
from in England. This was that remarkable colored man known 
by the name of Corn, so well remembered in Wrightstown, 
Newtown, and Middletown. After the death of Charles 
Hicks, Edward's father. Corn was sold among other slaves, 
and the money for which he was sold came to Edward, who 

16 



182 

being a minor; was placed as an apprentice to a cooper in Dela- 
ware County. After lie was free, lie became convinced of 
Friends' principles, and although not a member at that time, 
he felt uneasy at having in his possession money that was the 
proceeds of the sale of a slave. This uneasiness continuing, 
Edward came up into Bucks County, seeking for the slave, who 
was found with a Presbyterian, that set a very high value on 
him ; and if superior dignity of character is any proof of a de- 
scent from the royal line of Africa, he certainly had a valid 
claim, and well deserved the money that was paid to him in 
gold and silver, with its interest in full, by the hands of Edward 
Hicks. This remarkable act of justice produced considerable ex- 
citement among Friends of Wrightstown, who were then consist- 
ent abolitionists, and the sum so nobly paid not being enough to 
meet the demand of the Presbyterian, Friends of AVrightstown 
nobly came forward and paid the residue of the demand, and 
set the colored man free ; who abundantly proved that he was 
worthy of the favor, through a long life, distinguished not only 
by superior dignity of character, combined with the steady con- 
sistency of the Quaker ; but such scrupulous attention to the 
great principles of honesty, that his acts and sayings were never 
called in question. Such was the colored man long known by 
the name of Corn, the grist grinder in the mill of John Hulme 
& Sons, in Hulmeville, alias Milford, Middletown township, 
Bucks County, Pa. Having recorded the evidence of my name- 
sake's distinguished reverence for the great attribute of justice, 
I think myself happy in being able, if I am not mistaken in my 
information and impression, to record a still greater evidence of 
his peculiar love for the pre-eminent attribute of mercy, with 
which he closed a long and virtuous life. E. H. from travel- 
ling so long in the path of humble industry, strictly observing 
6uch remarkable frugality as to become honestly possessed of a 
large estate for a farmer, and being now a member of the So- 
ciety of Friends, he felt bound to take the advice of their ex- 
cellent discipline, and make his will and settle his earthly con- 
cerns while in health ; and being near fourscore, and blessed 
with sound mind and memory, he made his will and appor- 
tioned his property to his wife and children, showing them 
what he had done, and having the unspeakable satisfaction to 
know they were all satisfied. He then felt a concern to go 
over all his bonds, notes, and book accounts that were standing 



183 

against his friends and neighbors ; and every bond and note 
against persons in straitened circumstances^ or more especially 
if they were poor, he burnt, because he feared the collecting of 
such debts by his executors would cause suffering and sorrow ; 
and all such book accounts- he settled himself by balancing the 
book, thus offering a sweet smelling sacrifice of thousands, to 
the darling attribute of mercy and goodness. After perform- 
ing this truly Christian act he expressed the great peace he felt 
in doing what he thought was his duty, and in a few hours af- 
ter died suddenly, but in peace with Grod and man. Dear old 
Friends, you that are able go and do likewise. 

27^7i. Spent pretty much in writing, which I am afraid will 
be of but little use : for should it ever be published, no body, 
will think it worth reading, except some few of my friends who 
may be left. 

2%th. First day — dull, rainy weather — a sleepy time at 
meeting with many : but a good silent meeting for me, for I 
realized the truth of the Saviour's promise, ^^seek and ye shall 
find, knock and it shall be opened.'' How can Friends expect 
to have good meetings, if they will not observe or attend to the 
conditions contained in the text ? 

2%th. Steadily employed in the line of my business, feeling 
it my duty to do what I can for my family, while I am able to 
work ; when the time comes which must be near at hand, that 
I can no longer use these hands to minister to my own neces- 
sities, and them that are with me, my dear children must take 
care of me. 

30^A. Feeble in body and mind. I have but little to say, 
only I thought I felt something like the angel of God's holy 
presence, touching my soul about the time of the evening ob- 
lation, producing fervent prayer and living aspirations, which I 
nope was an acceptable sacrifice. 

1th month \st. As I am with great propriety classed among 
the poor working men, I am thankful I have been trying to do 
my duty in great weakness both of body and mind, under which, 
in the evening, felt peculiarly solemn, feeling that the time of 
my departure from this world is nigh at hand. 
" When rising from the bed of death, 
O'er whelmed with guilt and fear, 
I see my Saviour face to face, 
Oh ! how shall I appear ?'* 



184 

A discouraging time for the poor farmers; so wet and warm, 
that they cannot get their hay and wheat secured. 

2<f, od, 4:th. Wishing to avoid sameness and repetition, I 
have but little to. say, but that seriousness and solemnity have 
been increased by hearing of the death of four of my old friends: 
Joseph Price, Hannah L. Smith, Mary Hulme, and Mary Sto- 
ry. They were Orthodox Friends. 

5th. First day, went to see my children at Horsham ; called 
on my way at Warminster Meeting. The silent part of it was 
a strength and encouragment to my exercised soul, for it was to 
me a precious prayer meeting : but I am afraid my telling the 
people my experience naight have done more hurt than good. 

6th. A day of great favor as to the outward ; but yesterday 
the farmers were quite discouraged ; some wheat fields nearly 
destroyed by the fly, others so beat down by the wind and rain 
as to make it difficult gathering; others growing in the swarth ; 
abundance of hay spoiling in the field, with wet weather ; to-day 
the sun shines and the farmers are encouraged to exert them- 
selves. We were favored to secure enough for bread, which is 
certainly cause for thankfulness, and the weather continuing to 
look favorable, hope increases. Thus our being in this world 
depends upon the blessing of our Heavenly Father. Without 
his sun, which he causes to rise upon the just and upon the 
unjust, and vi'ithout his rain, which he sendeth upon the good 
and upon the evil, how soon should we cease to exist. 

7th. This day, forty-four years ago, I well remember making 
a record like this, " Where shall I be, and what shall I be, in 
forty years from this time?" I think my mind was under a 
solemn impression, and I prayed for preservation. Oh ! thou 
covenant keeping God, thou heardst my feeble cry, for thou 
hast granted my request, and blessed me, unworthy wretch as I 
am, and oh! where shall I be, and what shall I be, in the half 
of forty years to come ? Shall I be permitted to enter thi/ city 
whose walls are salvation, and whose gates are eternal praise ? 
This day has been peculiarly favorable to the farmers for get- 
ting in their grain and hay. Oh ! that their hearts may be 
tender and contrite before the Lord, in thanksgiving and praise. 

8^^. Another remarkably fine day for harvesting and getting 
in the hay — the most pleasant summer weather. The farmer 
ought to rejoice, and, indeed, every Christian in the United 
States should rejoice ever more, and in every thing give thanks 



185 

for the many blessings they enjoy. They ought to rejoice 
with thankful hearts^ and bear their testimony against that 
wicked, grumbling, growling, fault-finding spirit, that would 
destroy the religious and civil institutions of our beloved 
country, turn our liberty into licentiousness, and introduce 
universal anarchy and confusion into both Church and State. 

^tli. Our Monthly Meeting at Makefield ; and as our chatter- 
ing reformers were both absent, we had a good little Monthly 
Meeting. One of our young members who had been persuaded 
by the Presbyterian priest, and one of his silly women, with 
whom the young Friend was hired, to join their meeting, came 
forward to-day with a voluntary acknowledgment and con- 
demnation of his conduct, which was accepted. It is a cause 
of encouragement that, notwithstanding our unsettled state, 
and the scattering of our youth, the priests and their silly 
women cannot get and hold them. We had some speaking 
from a stranger, and some solid Gospel truths from J. M. S., 
and two of our female ministers. 

lO^/i. An exceedingly warm day, and it was with difficulty 
that I could make out to work, though I did make a good day 
of it, for a poor feeble old man. Had the company of a friend 
in the afternoon, that I was rather glad of, for I had feared 
that I had offended him when at the funeral of his father. 

11^7^. Another exceedingly warm day, which has an en- 
feebling effect upon my poor worn out constitution. Notwith- 
standing, I did my day's work, as to the outward, but the inner 
man of the heart I fear has been too shackling and idle. 

Vltli. First day, very warm weather. The professed wor- 
shippers of an infinitely perfect spiritual Being, that had col- 
lected at our meeting house, appeared to me too careless, idle, 
and indolent, which made hard work to keep to the life. I 
was led, I thought rightly, to speak of the great loss we sus- 
tained by sitting in a lounging posture or position, which 
nursed the weakness of our common nature, and rendered our 
meeting for worship a poor, lifeless thing. Whereas, if we 
were concerned to obey the commandment our Saviour gives 
to his disciples, '^Strive to enter in at the straight gate; for I 
say unto you, many shall seek to enter and shall not be able ; 
for straight is the gate, and narrow is the way, that leads to 
life, and few there be that find it : because wide is the gate 
and broad is the way, that leads to death or destruction, and 

16* 



186 

many there are that go in thereat/' — I say I tried to encourage 
Friends that if we wouki be obedient to this commandment, 
and strive to enter into life, or a living exercise, sitting up- 
right, with the loins of our minds girded up, we could not fail 
coming at the life, and having a profitable meeting. But oh ! 
the dreadful consequences of spiritual idleness ; it is as much 
greater than bodily idleness, as the soul is greater than the 
body. But all I said seemed to me to pass as the idle wind, 
and after I sat down, a few words from my younger brother, 
J. M. S., had more Gospel in them than all that I said. 

IBth. Feeble as I was, I did a pretty good day's work. I 
have thought it right to exert myself to get ready to attend the 
Quarterly Meetings in the western part of our Yearly Meeting, 
which commence on the 20th. I think it will be best to go in 
my ow^n wagon, and be as little trouble and hindrance to Friends 
as I can, although my age and infirmity would justify my having 
company. 

lith. Astonishing change in the weather, from excessive 
heat to a cool fall air. I feel these changes very sensibly, and 
feel it hard to keep at work ; and my weakness of body predis- 
poses to discouragement about the state of our religious Society. 
A lovely young Friend in our town, though not a member of 
our Monthly Meeting, has lately married an Episcopalian, the 
daughter of an Orthodox Friend, and almost of course has left 
us. This circumstance has revived a sorrowful feeling I have 
had for years, of the sad loss that children sustain for the want 
of religious education. The father of this young man, who is 
in the station. of an elder, appears to have spared no pains and 
expense to give him scholastic education ; but I fear has left 
his soul too much as the ostrich leaveth her eggs, caring not 
if the foot of the passenger crush them. But how can it be 
otherwise? if the fathers have eaten sour'^grapes the children's 
teeth must be set on edge — or, to speak more plainly, if pa- 
rents have no heartfelt belief in an after state, or in the awful 
doctrine of rewards and punishments, how can they impress it 
on the minds of their children? If parents have never entered 
the inner court of the temple, by Jesus Christ, who is the only 
door, how can they feel a right concern that their children 
may enter by the same door ? No marvel, then, that such 
sadly neglected children of Friends should leave Christ, the 
only door into the true sheepfold, and be found climbing up 



187 

some other way, after the mercenary hireling ministers, spend- 
ing their precious time in pursuit of ^' bubbles, deviled o'er by 
sense,'' those rattles and conceits of trifling cast, which can 
only drag their patient through the tedious length of a short 
winter's day. 

Wits, oracles — say, ye dreamers of gay dreams, 
How can you weather an eternal night, 
When such expedients fail V^ 

I make not these remarks as only applicable to the above 
case, for alas ! I fear it will be found they will bear too general 
an application, if we judge the professors of Christianity by 
the standard or rule proposed by the Divine Saviour : '^ By 
their fruits ye shall know them." 

X^tli. A remarkably cold day for mid-summer. Paid an 
agreeable visit in company with my wife, to an old friend, a 
widow, who appears, like myself, to be going fast to her long 
home. 

\^ih. Our midweek meeting to-day; rather a laborious time, 
but upon the whole a peaceable and profitable meeting. Went 
in the afternoon with my wife to see a dear sick friend, which 
was to me peculiarly satisfactory. But my mind is made sor- 
rowful by what I saw this morning, at the hotel, in our town ; 
the son of a dear deceased friend, whose remains I sorrowfully 
followed to the grave, a year ago, now tending bar, while his 
widowed mother, with the care of his own little motherless 
children, is left alone on a little farm near Bristol. How sor- 
rowfully affecting to see so many young Friends ruined by 
keeping bad company. Oh ! that I could warn them of the 
dangerous consequences that attend the frequenting of taverns 
and places of diversion ; but worst of all, and most to be de- 
plored as human nature's broadest, foulest blot, houses of ill 
fame-r-sinks of pollution, degradation, and gambling tables. 

VI th. In corapany with my old friend Joseph Briggs, who 
has sat by me in the station of an elder for nearly thirty years, 
I left home after dinner, to attend the western quarters ; lodged 
at my brother and sister Phipps', at Whitemarsh. 

18^7i. Went to Newtown Square, in Delaware County, to the 
house of our friend S. 0., who had notice spread of our being 
at their meeting in the morning, and at Willistown in the 
afternoon. 

\^th. First day, attended said meetings. A very large com- 



18S 

pany of tender, goodly people got togetlier, whom tlie Lord 
blessed with his living presence; and we had a good meeting. 
In the afternoon, Joseph Foulk had some service, and we had 
the company of John Hunt, of Darby, and John Townsend, of 
Philadelphia; and though they were silent, I thought they 
were a great help to the meeting. John Hunt is the third son 
of that venerable mother in our Israel, Rachel Hunt, of Darby, 
a dignified minister of the Grospel, so well known and so uni- 
versally beloved and respected, that her character stands above 
any eulogy of mine. John has been one of those noble, jolly, 
generous men of the world, who take the tour of Europe, visit- 
ing taverns, fashionable watering places, and places of diver- 
sion, travelling with rapidity, 

"to fly that tyrant Thought^ 
To lash the lingering monaents into speed, 
And whirl us (happy riddance) fronri ourselves." 

Dear John Hunt saw before it was too late, the awful gulf, 
and, like the penitent prodigal, returned to his father's house, 
giving, I hope I may say, incontrovertible evidence that he 
has been clothed with the best robe, and his feet shod with a 
right preparation of the Grospel of peace, while his friends, and 
the friends of Christ, participate in that heavenly joy over one 
sinner that repenteth. Oh ! that the Shepherd of Israel, who 
sleeps not by day, nor slumbers by night, may preserve him 
from being overcome by the temptations of the Devil, and the 
flattery of silly women — male and female — who are his most 
powerful agents, and whom he employs to ^' boost,^' — as we, 
when we were little boys, used to say, when we wanted help in 
climbing a tree — poor ministers, when trying to climb up after 
the Devil, on to the pinnacle of the temple, from which, alas ! 
too many have been persuaded to throw themselves, in awful 
presumption, to the disgrace of the Society of Friends, and the 
great discouragement of the dear visited children. Went, after 
meeting at Willistown, to Jonathan Paxson's, a nephew of 
that almost super-excellent Oliver Paxson, that elder worthy 
of double honor, that pillar in the Lord's house, that father in 
the church of Christ, and prince in our Israel. Jonathan's 
valuable wife is a daughter of the late Phillip Price, an Ortho- 
dox elder, who, when he found his son Benjamin would go with 
Friends, acknowledged that there were valuable Friends among 
US, but said we would be overwhelmed with ranterism : is not 



189 

his prophecy coming true ? Benjamin and his wife came to 
see us in the evening, and appeared serious and dignified ; but 
I thought I felt something distant and reserved in him, which, 
if my feelings are correct, I can easily account for. B. P. has 
become the principal of a boarding school, consequently he 
must rank amongst the learned and great of Society, whilst I 
have, with great propriety, taken my place among the illiterate, 
the ignorant, and simple; and like Cowper's cottager, 

" Know this, if nothing more, my Bible true, 
A truth the learned skeptic never knew." 

Be that as it may, however diversified with afflictions and 
vicissitudes the remaining part of my life may prove, I shall 
ever remember the time I have spent with him, with this pe- 
culiar acknowledgement, that of all the companions in travel 
I have ever had, take him in the whole, I have never had the 
equal of dear B. P. 

20^/i. Second day, we went in company with Joseph Foulk, 
John Hunt, and John Townsend, to London Grove, and at- 
tended the select Quarterly Meeting, which was large ; where 
we met with John Comly, who, with John Hunt, had good 
service. I was favored to keep silent, and feel after the spirit 
of prayer. Lodged with Thomas Hicks, in company with 
divers valuable Friends. 

21st Attended the general Quarterly Meeting, which was 
very large— a strong, substantial body of Friends, and some 
very strong ultra reformers. Of course there was a strife of 
tongues, which I was favored to take no part with, but to re- 
main silent, though I felt a little like the Presbyterian boy, 
who wanted to go to a silent Quaker meeting, where he might 
have time to think. I tried to get to the place where prayer 
was wont to be made, but almost labored in vain, there was 
such a continual speaking, reading, and lecturing, for nearly 
five hours. Lodged at Joseph S. Walton's, in company with 
John Comly, on our way to Cain Quarter. 

TV hat a sorrowful list of fallen Quaker preachers is pre- 
sented in a retrospect of fifty years. How many that once 
spoke as it were with the tongues of men and angels, have 
turned out worse than nothing. Many have been pufied up 
with spiritual pride and self-righteousness, and have become a 
disgrace to their friends, and a burthen to Society. There must be 
a cause for this sad effect, and I verily believe it is unbelief or 



190 

hardness of heart, selfishness, and pride. And oh ! I should 
have been added to this dreadful class, had it not been for the 
mercy and goodness of Grod, through Jesus Christ, my dear 
Redeemer, who loved me and gave himself for me — he has 
snatched me as a brand from the burning, he has preserved me 
thus far as a monument of his mercy, and oh ! that the last 
sound which may be heard from this tongue, may be thanks- 
giving and praise to the blessed Saviour of the world. My 
only hope of being saved from the foregoing evils, is the daily 
care of my Heavenly Shepherd, for of myself I can do nothing ; 
and oh ! that I may continue to look to him oftener than the 
morning, for power to do his will, and finish the work he has 
given me to do. 

22d. Some remarks of my dear friend J. C, this morning, 
had a tendency to corroborate some of my views touching the 
radical deficiency of the ministry, and the weak, scattered state 
of Society. He said it would be better not to publish a per- 
son's writings till three or four years after they were dead, so 
as to let their foibles die with them. I would seriously ask, 
whether it can exalt the cause of truth, for the Society of 
Friends to give their sanction to the publication of the writings 
of such. If it were my own case, I would say they had better 
be burned ; for if ministers can not live up to their own doc- 
trine, they had better quit preaching. ^^Thou that sayest a 
man should not steal, dost thou steal ?'' Before we indulge 
such anxiety to have our writings published, let us be able to 
say to the people, in the language and spirit of the apostle, 
" Seeing we are compassed about with such a cloud of wit- 
nesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin that so easily 
besets us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our 
faith.'' Ah ! I fear that here is the cause of all our deficien- 
cies : some of us do not believe in that Jesus, as Paul did — do 
not believe he is any thing ^^more than a man,'' ^^a great re- 
former," although not as great as a Catholic priest of Ireland; 
and yet we want to be called by his name. What abominable 
hypocrisy ! my very soul sickens with the subject matter be- 
fore me, and I turn from it with disgust, rejoicing to behold 
on my right hand a valuable body of precious ministering 
Friends, who give a practical evidence that they believe in the 
doctrine of the beloved John, " If we walk in the light as Grod 
is in the light, then have we fellowship one with another, and 



191 

thie blood of Jesus Christ, his son, cleauseth us from all 
sin." 

About twelve o'clock we left Joseph S. Walton's, in com- 
pany with J. C, J. F., and other valuable Friends, to attend 
the select Quarterly Meeting at East Cain, in the afternoon. 
A weak, low time, only six members present — Greorge Massy 
an aged and very respectable elder, seemed very much tried, if 
not discouraged. Went in the evening to the widow Davis's, 
a worthy elder. Though feeble with age and infirmity, she 
reminded me of the apostle John's elect lady, with her chil- 
dren- She is the daughter of William Mode, that valiant man 
in our Israel. When the house of Saul was to be superceded 
by the house of David in the Western Quarterly Meeting, 
William Mode stood as an upright pillar, that would not 
go out. 

2Sd. Attended the general Quarterly Meeting held at East 
Cain. It was quite small in comparison to the Western Quar- 
ter, though it had one great advantage, the meeting for wor- 
ship was held nearly one hour in solemn silence. To me it 
was a precious opportunity, for through adorable mercy my 
poor soul was made fruitful in the field of offering, and joyful 
in the house of prayer. But the precious silence was at last 
broken by my dear brother J. F., and it appeared to me that 
the life soon left the meeting, which still continued its session 
for nearly four hours. Ah ! poor Cain, I do not' know what 
will become of thee, when a few such men as Gr. M. and E. K. 
are taken from the evil to come. Thou appearest to me to be 
already scattered, shattered, and peeled by a political whirl- 
wind, bearing upon its forehead the plausible concerns of civil 
liberty and temperance, while I fear too many of their most 
distinguished advocates are withering away, as to_ the life of 
Christianity, under the influence of the cold east winds of Uni- 
tarian skepticism. 

After meeting, returned with our dear friend Joseph Chan- 
dler, living near London Grove. 

24cth. Paid a very pleasant social visit to T. E. and family, 
at New G-arden. He has a lovely wife and an interesting 
family of children, who I fear have been hurt by the vain spirit 
of a fallen world, where the priests bear rule by their means, 
and the deluded people love to have it so ; and wherever these 
gentry get an influence in Friends' families, they are almost 



192 

sure to leave the print of their soiled fingers. I love T. E., 
his dear wife and children, who treated me, as usual, with 
great kindness. In the afternoon attended an appointed 
meeting at Unionville ; a beautiful, new house, filled to over- 
flowing with a respectable, sober, tender people. I felt feeble 
in body and mind, and secretly prayed to my Heavenly Shep- 
herd for help, for without him I can do nothing to the honor 
and glory of his cause on earth; and although I had sitting at 
my right hand, that valuable female minister, Ruth Pile, who 
helped to hold up my hands, I fear my little, service partook 
too much of the nature of the instrument, to be of much use 
to the people. Lodged with Doctor Seal, one of those sub- 
stantial men who are as sinews to the state. He appeared to 
have a lovely wife and children. 

2^th. Paid a social, I had almost said a religious visit to a 
Baptist woman — one of those valuable women who are a blessing 
to every neighborhood where they live. We had been school- 
mates in our youth. In the afternoon, visited a Friend's fami- 
ly in trouble, for the head thereof appeared sick with com- 
plexional melancholy. I tried to encourage him, but alas ! this 
sad disease is beyond the reach of a poor weak disciple, and can 
only be cured by the Divine Master. Attended an appointed 
meeting at Marlborough, The house appeared to be filled with 
intelligence, tenderness, talent and self-will— a heterogeneous 
mass, to whom a heterogeneous discourse was, perhaps, best 
suited. It was thought by some Friends to be a good meeting 
— if so, give Grod the glory, for the preacher was nothing but 
a poor sinner. After meeting, went home with Thomas Hicks, 
to lodge on the way to New Garden. 

26^A. First day, attended New G-arden Meeting, which I fear 
had more of numbers and novelty, than seeking souls and 
gospel truths. In the afternoon attended an appointed meet- 
ing at Kennet Square. There were too many people by half, 
in attendance, and as to the public service, it appears to 
me such a mixture, that it would ^have puzzled a chemist to 
analyze it. After meeting, a very respectable looking man 
came to me, either in the capacity of a messenger of encourage- 
ment or an agent of the Devil, and told me as to physical 
strength I was a living miracle, and the doctrine I preached 
was calculated to restore harmony and peace ; be that as it may, 
one consideration affords peace, I tried to have my own will 



193 

so completely subdued as to have nothing to do with the con- 
cern, and there I am willing to leave it and follow dear Ruth 
Pile and her son to Susannah Way's, near Brandy wine, to 
lodge. This widow I hope was an Elect Lady, having three 
very intelligent, interesting children living with her. 

27^A. Went on to Concord to the house of our kind friend 
Doctor Marsh. In the afternoon attended the select Quarterly 
Meeting, which was large and strong, and conducted with more 
dignity than I have lately been a witness to — the only defi- 
ciency I observed was in us ministers 3 we could not be silent 
enough. I tried to get down to the waters of life, but found hard 
digging and but little water, but it was sweet. Lodged at the 
Doctor's in company with dear John Hunt, Phoebe Iladley, 
and other valuable Friends. Phoebe is a precious minister, and 
her company was, I thought, a strength to me. 

28^/i. Attended Concord Quarterly Meeting — a large, sub- 
stantial body of Friends, but I^cannot say, as a meeting, they 
were either dignified with imriiortality or crowned with eternal 
life, for there was a young nlah amongst them whose right 
hand appeared to me to be withered. He was so paralysed that 
he did not know it, but thought he was strong enough to stand 
forth in the midst, without the Saviour's power or command ; 
and for nearly one houi* he tried to stfetch forth^ his hand, but 
it appeared to me still withered, atid I think will remain 
so until he complies #ith the terms laid down by the great 
head of the church : '* When thou bringest thy gift to the altar 
and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee, 
leave there thy gift — go, be reconciled to thy brother, then come 
offer ^thy gift.'' Several wotnen exercised their gifts I trust, to 
edification and comfort. I was favored through mercy to keep 
silent, and when dear John Hunt rolled away the stone from 
the mouth of the well of life, I could say in the secret of my 
soul, '^ Spring up, well, and I will sing unto thee.'' I could 
then weep, as it it were, between the porch and the altar, and 
offer for my own sins a broken heart and a contrite spirit, say- 
ing to my Father who seeth in secret, ^^ spare thy people, O 
Lord, and give not thy heritage to a reproach.' ' I wish it to be 
distinctly understood that none of those active, forward preach- 
ers, that I have taken the liberty to find fault with, stood in my 
way in the Quarterly Meeting ; far from it, for if I understand the 
command of my Master, it was to pray to him in secret and 



194 

suffer in silence, not to preacli ; but a superficial ministry dis- 
turbs the solerauity of a Quaker meeting, for Christ's saying 
remains an unchangeable truth, " he that gathereth not with 
me scattereth/^ 

In Concord Quarterly Meeting for business, there was a case 
of an appeal from the judgment of one of the Monthly Meet- 
ings, and it appeared to me that Friends were more concerned 
to sustain, what they would call *' the dignity of a Quarterly 
Meeting," than the attribute of mercy and forgiveness, which 
should ever be the distinguishing badge of a Christian assem- 
bly ; and I ventured to tell them of it in a few words. My 
cough increasing so much and having sat a long time, I felt a 
freedom to excuse myself and leave the meeting, walking 
slowly back to the Doctor's, nearly a mile. Doctor Marsh has 
a son at home with him, apparently a talented, dignified young 
Doctor, who I fear is in the last stage of a pulmonary con- 
sumption. I felt the tenderest sympathy for him and his lovely 
young wife and infant child. My secret fervent prayer 
has been offered to the Shepherd of Israel on their account. 

Came on in the afternoon as far as Darby, in company with 
Abraham Gr. Hunt, the youngest son of liachel Hunt, already 
alluded to. He and his dear wife were so kind and pleasant, 
that it dispelled the gloom that might otherwise have rested on 
the place, (which is now left vacant,) from a view of several 
memorials of a dear departed mother in the truth. 

29th. Left in the morning for home. My friend Joseph, 
having some business in the city, I felt more than a freedom 
to attend Cherry street meeting for worship, and after a pain- 
ful, laborious exercise to keep above the overwhelming flood of 
sleep and sluggishness, truth arose triumphant over all', and 
furnished me with a word of encouragement which I offered 
publicly to my friends, and we parted in peace and love. I 
came home and found all well, for which I am thankful. My 
old friend J. B. in his seventy-seventh year and myself sixty- 
seven, were gone from home twelve days and a half, and I at- 
tended thirteen meetings, and he twelve, but the most extraor- 
dinary circumstance is, that we have sat along-side of each 
other for more than thirty years ; he in the station of an elder 
and I in the station of a minister. 

^Oth. Our Preparative meeting — a very laborious spiritual 
exercise, but a precious triumphant meeting ; wherein I saw 



v\ 



195 



the incalculable loss that Friends sustain, especially in their re- 
ligious meetings, by giving way to the weakness of our common 
nature, sleepy sluggishness and busy thought ; carelessly glid- 
ing down the tide of time, though not "■ on time intent,] and 
so unconscious of the passing time, that to the niercy 
of a moment's left the vast concerns of an eternal scene/' 

Si St. Hearing of the sickness of my daughter Susan in New 
York, and not knowing what day we may be sent for, I gave 
out attending Philadelphia and Abington Quarters next week. 
My dear Susan being sick, leads me again to mention her dear ■ 
deceased daughter, mi/ siveet littte Phcebe Ann. Though nearly 
five months have passed since her departure to the eternal world, 
there has not been a day in which I have not wept more or less 
for the loss of a child whom I loved, if possible, better than my 
own life; while I have sorrowfully rejoiced at her safe arrival 
in that city whose walls are salvation and whose gates are 
eternal praise. 

^tli month 1st. Comfortably and happily at homo with 
my dear wife and children, in the enjoyment of peace and 
plenty, 

*^ Oh for a thousand tongues to tell 
My dear Redeemer's praise." 

2d. First day — a triumphant victory over weakness and a 
precious baptising meeting, held in solemn silence. 

3c? and 4:th. Spent pretty much in writing, bringing up my 
diary to the present date. 

5^/i. Went from a sense of religious duty to Wrightstown 
Monthly Meeting, and sat along-side of H. W. in the back 
part of the meeting; a Friend who has stood in the station 
of a recommended minister for ten or twelve years, but is now 
under dealing for contracting debts that he was not able to pay, 
and then a making a partial assignment, and other misdemean- 
ors, for which he made a fall and ample acknowledgement, 
which being brought before the meeting was ably discussed. I 
certainly tried to feel tenderness and sympathy for my poor 
friend, but for some cause, which I hope was my own fault, I 
could neither shed a tear nor offer a living prayer. T certainly 
felt that I had been as bad, if not worse than he, but I re- 
membered that when in the street called Strait, like Saul of 
Tarsus, I prayed, and the good Ananias was sent to shew 



A^'V 



y. 



19C> 



mc a way where there appeared no way ; but I feared that ray 
poor friend H. AV. had never fervently prayed in the depth 
of humility for himself, but was retaining a secret hardness 
against his friends whom he had deceived, and like had begat 
its like — hence the hardness of heart and diflSculty of under- 
standing. I therefore arrived at this conclusion, that if H. W. 
would now go to each of his creditors, humbled as it were in the 
dust, and say in a language like one formerly, " have pati3nce 
with rae and I will try to pay thee all," I cannot believe there 
is one of them so cruel as to seize him by the throat saying, 
*^ pay me that thou owest." With this conclusion I left the 
IMonthly Meeting at Wrightstown and returned home, satisfied 
that I had tried to do what I thought was my duty. 

It very ill becomes us, professing ministers of the gospel, 
when we get a standing among our friends, and borrow their 
money, or otherwise get in debt to them, when we are not able 
to pay them, to add insult to injury by trying to bully them 
down in a Monthly Meeting, by a party of pretended Friends, 
who perhaps are influenced by no better feelings than Ahab's 
foolish pity. As for our creditors, if they are hard-hearted, selfish 
usurers, they will have an awful account to settle before that 
Judge, of quick and dead, whose commandment to his people is 
clearly and positively laid down in Holy writ, " Thou shalt no 
lend thy money to thy poor brother on usury ; I say unto you 
do good and lend hoping for nothing again, and your reward 
shall be great and ye shall be called the children of the Highest." 

6th. Our Monthly Meeting at Newtown. I had a lively ex- 
ercise in silence, though truth did not rise in dominion. I 
thought that Friends had cause to thank God and take cour- 
age, seeing that the instruments of disorganization and con- 
fusion amongst us were so very few and so very weak and 
insignificant. 

Itli. Pcissed through some exercise and sorrow on account 
of the particularly tried state of some of my friends, especially 
two ministers, one of whom I have alluded to. The other is 
a brother with whose gift and spirit I have great unity, and his 
lovely wife still more, although she is not an acknowledged 
minister. They are in debt for the property they hold, so that 
the grub-worm of usury is eating up what little substance they 
have, and I fear if they do not sell their place soon, they will 
not have enough left to pay their just debts, although now I 



197 

believe they are solvent. I was certainly once In a worse pre- 
dicament than they are, but my tried situation seemed to ex- 
cite a general sympathy in the Society, and dear friends came 
forward to relieve me. But no feelings of tenderness or bro- 
therly kindness seems to be manifested towcirds these dear 
Friends, though I am sure they are better than ever I was, and 
more worthy of the sympathy of Society — hence I conclude 
the Society of Friends are retrograding from practical Chris- 
tianity. 

Sth. Felt an anti-christian spirit to arise on hearing of the 
bigotry and bitterness of a Methodist minister, now living in 
our town, although upon self examination found I was too 
much in the same spirit, with greater inconsistency than my 
Methodist neighbor, for he declares in favor of war, and is 
ready to carry his bigotry and bitterness to the field of battle; 
but I profess to be the follower of the meek, humble carpenter 
of Nazareth, who was an antipode to all bigotry, bitterness, 
and war, and therefore if I indulge these wicked spirits, I am 
a hypocrite, and worse, if possible, than the Methodist minis- 
ter. Oh ! that I had more of that heavenly charity, that is 
not so easily offended. 

9th. First day, a pretty large meeting, and while I remain- 
ed silent, it was a precious encouraging opportunity, but my 
preaching I fear was a poor concern — however, I tried to do 
the best I could, and I feel no condemnation. 

lOtJi. Wrote a letter for the benefit and on behalf of a very 
dear friend who is in trouble and difiiculty : I have but little 
hope that it will have much effect. I am too little a man, and 
consequently will have too little influence. 

11th. Our dear Isaac returned from New York quite un- 
well, which is a cause of anxiety, but brought the agreeable 
intelligence that our dear Susan is better, and we have the ad- 
ditional pleasure of a visit from Caroline Seaman, a grand- 
daughter of the venerable Elias Hicks. 

12th. "Went to Byberry meeting. It appeared small and 
scattered : but I was brought under a lively exercise, and 
thought I saw more clearly than ever the cause of their dwin- 
dling state, the same disease that was in apostate Israel. They 
forsook the Loirl Ahnighti/, the fountain of living waters, and 
hewed to themselves cisterns, broken cisterns, that would hold 
no water, in consequence of which, children had become their 

17* 



(^ 



198 

oppressors, and women ruled over them. Paid tlie most agree- 
able visit to my dear friend, J ohn Comly, and his interesting 
family, I ever did. 

ISth. Returned home and found my family well ; but my 
dear friend Elizabeth Roberts, wife of David Roberts, one of 
our aged members, died this morning. Received a letter to- 
gether with a box or chest of tea, (from William Moore, son 
of my dear deceased friend. Doctor John Moore, late of Phi- 
ladelphia,) from China. The letter was peculiarly acceptable, 
containing a sweetness that made the most tendering impres- 
sions. My dear cousins, V. and A. H., children of the excellent 
E. H., arrived this evening from New York. Their visit to 
me is more than acceptable; and had it been at any other 
time, the daughter of dear P. Gr., who likewise called with 
her children, would have been to me peculiarly pleasing : but 
we were rather unpleasantly crowded. 

IQfli. First day, attended the funeral of our dear friend, 
Elizabeth Roberts, who was buried before meeting, and of 
course the meeting was larger than common, to whom I was 
led to speak. Our mucli loved E. S. added a short com- 
munication, which I did not distinctly hear, but thought 
that it was as usual sweet and savoury ; but some thought it 
unbecoming the occasion, and were offended. Well, if the dear 
little creature, did get a little wrong, even that may have its 
use, for some of us were rather idolizing her ; for all things 
work together for good to them that love God. 

17th. Had the very agreeable company of John Comly and 
his two children, Charles and Sarah; these, in addition to my cou- 
sins Valentine and Abigail Hicks, with their daughter, made 
a very interesting company, with whom the day was spent 
agreeably. Received in the evening, from my dear friend 
William Folwell, of New Jersey, a truly encouraging letter, 
filled with brotherly kindness. 

18^/^. Spent in company with my cousins from Long Island 
and New York, very pleasantly if not profitably. I certain- 
tainly have some doubts of the propriety of Friends spending 
their precious time unprofitably in visits merely for pleasure, 
and am almost ready to conclude that it increases weakness, 
idleness, and pride among us. 

IQth. I was made sorrowful to day on hearing that one of 
our members said that Franklin's works were as good as the 



190^ 

Bible. Tliis man Is at tlie liead of a rising family, In which, 
in all probability the Scriptures are never read. Alas ! for 
the cause of Christ, as professed by Friends. I feel something 
like a concern to speak privately to the member, but I have 
but little hope that he will hear me, for all these fault-finders 
and unbelievers of the Scriptures, are self-righteous, and I 
fear in the broad way to commit the unpardonable sin by blas- 
pheming against the Holy Ghost. A Veil, let others do as they 
will, as for me and my house we will try to serve the Lord, 
In the way of our early Friends, walking by the same rule, 
and minding the same things, for I am increasingly confirmed 
In the belief that every departure from the primitive path, 
either into right hand or left hand errors will end in darkness 
and confusion. 

2,0 th. Our moetiBg day. My active mind was too full of 
cogitation about publishing another extract from my writings, 
and too much confused to come to any safe conclusion. I cer- 
tainly think I am sincere in singly desiring to promote the 
cause of my dear Redeemer ; but while this cloud of confusion 
continues, I shall be, afraid. Was made sorrowful towards 
evening in hearing that a son of a very dear Friend, who had 
recently reformed from Intemperate habits had fallen back 
again, and In dark confusion, married one of those unfor- 
tunate females who too much abound \\\ o.ur towns and cities, 
and was now in a state bordering on distraction. Poor, dear 
children, how I feel for themj I would go aU the way to Phi- 
ladelphia If I could see them, together and -persuade them to 
come to a Saviour^ s feet to wash then^ with tears of repent- 
ance, and be clothed in their right mind. I have been led of 
late into serious thoughtfulness and fervent prayer for those 
wretched females who have become the inn\ates of those sinks 
of pollution. How many of them might have been saved had 
their parents or friends been clothed with ^hat mercy and 
goodness which shone so conspicuously in the liivine Saviour. 
When he saw such a wretched sinner stand before him, self-con- 
demned, self-abased, bathed in tears of contrition and confusion of 
face, the darling attribute could only say, ^/.go, sin nomore.^' 
Those cruel monsters who first seduce these w-eak young wo- 
men, and glory In their shame, are the unhappy wretches that 
cannot escape the damnation of hell. 

21st. Having been persuaded that I had better not work in 
my shop during what Is called dog days, I find a difiicultyand 



200 

uneasiness, in being so mucli of my time idle, and must cer- 
tainly go to work after next week, or after Quarterly Meeting, 
if I am able. 

22d. Had a visit from a prepossessing young man, a stran- 
ger, who appeared to possess uncommon intelligence, to whom 
I was led to explain Friend's doctrine and discipline, together 
with the cause of the division among us. 

2od. First day, dull and rainy ; a small, silent, satisfoctory 
meeting. Spent the afterpart of the day and evening pretty 
much in reading, especially one Sumner's discourse, shewing 
the political inexpediency of war. He appears one of those 
strong men who are laboring hard for moral reform, without 
Divine assistance, and has such confidence in his own resources 
that he feels no need of a Saviour. 

24:th. Made a feeble attempt to preach the Gospel of Christ 
privately to one of my neighbors, who is in the habit of indulg- 
ing in drinking frolics. Dear creature, I felt great love in my 
heart for him, and tried to encourage him to look to a Saviour 
to save him from sin. 

2bth. Had considerable company, and I fear talked too 
much and too lightly on serious subjects. Oh ! this idle, shack- 
ling, gabbling spirit, it too often destroys my peace, and I fear 
it is increasing among Friends. But what can I say, but 
" like priest, like people.^' I fear some of us ministers are 
setting a bad example. 

26^7i. Our select Quarterly Meeting at the Falls ; a dull 
rainy day, and it appeared to me that a dull, lethargic, scat- 
tering spirit, seemed to predominate ; under which my poor 
soul was in an agony, and I prayed earnestly, fervently, and I 
hope effectually, for I thought the guardian angel of God's 
holy presence appeared to me, with healing in his wings, and 
I had a precious meeting, for which my soul bows in gratitude, 
thanksgiving, and praise to him that sitteth upon the throne, 
and the Lamb. And I saw, I thought, with renewed clear- 
ness, that many Friends had committed the two great evils, which 
the Lord's people of old committed. They had forsaken Ilim, 
the fountain of living water, and hewed out to themselves 
cisterns, broken cisterns, that could hold no living water — 
hence it had leaked away, little by little, and left the souls of 
Friends dry and barren as to a belief, much less a dependance, 
on an omnipresent Saviour — hence too, their love of the world, 



201 

and tlie things of the world, their love of money and scho- 
lastic learning, their childish speculations in Morns Multicaulis, 
Thompsonian doctoring, Phrenology and Animal Magnetism. 
These two last ridiculous bubbles, I fear, have been carried to 
an impious, if not a blasphemous, extreme, even by some 
ministers and elders. Is it any marvel then that the So- 
ciety of Friends should have children for their oppressors 
and women to rule over them? 

21th. Our general Quarterly Meeting; a very large concourso 
of Friends, and others. In the meeting for worship there was 
silence enough for me to get a little heavenly bread, which was 
nourishing to my poor soul : but the public speaking that I 
heard, if life to others, was like death to me. I therefore had 
to suffer in silence, to that degree, that it was a great relief to 
me when meeting ended. I verily believe there is a valuable 
body of religious Friends in Bucks Quarterly Meeting, and oh! 
that I could persuade them to pray more, and talk less ; and 
set the exam.ple myself, and lay down that life of selfishness and 
activity : for our active, restless, chattering Friends, appear to 
me to have so enthusiastically espoused the cause of the slave 
and the drunkard, as to be intoxicated themselves, but not 
with wine, and to reel to and fro, though not with strong drink, 
and to be sowing to the winds and reaping the whirlwind. 
Like Ephraim of old, they appear to me to be living on wind, 
and strangers are devouring their strength, and they know it 
not. Notwithstanding, upon the whole, I am willing to hope 
that truth rather gained the victory in our Quarterly Meeting, 
although it certainly was a very trying time. 

2%th. This day has been spent too idly, and of course neither 
profitably nor peaceably. 

29^A. Diligent in business, and of course more profitable and 
peaceful, leading to quietness and serenity at night. 

30^A. First day ; a large meeting, in which I was favored to 
be silent, and to me it was a good time. The afternoon was 
spent agreeably in agreeable company. 

Z\st. Went in company with my friend J. M. S. to Mount 
Holly, to attend Burlington Quarterly Meeting of ministers 
and elders, which was to me a memorable religious opportunity : 
feeling myself a sinner, I begged for forgiveness, and had an 
evidence that ray Heavenly Father was still graciously disposed 
to be merciful to me. 



202 

dth month l.s7. Burlington Quarterly Meeting of Friends 
held at Mount Holly was large. Samuel Comfort and bis dear 
Elizabeth were there, and I thought in their places. J. F. was 
likewise in attendance as usual, and as usual had considerable 
to say ; but lam afraid that I was wicked in feeling Orthodox at 
some of our troublesome members from Bucks Quarter, particu- 
larly a J. M., who had been trying nearly twenty years, to 
convince his friends that he was a great preacher, without giv- 
ing any satisfactory evidences that he has even the bell, with- 
out the pomegranate, so essential for a gospel minister, and 
having apparently got out of patience, prudence, and modesty, 
because his friends have no unity with him, he pushes himself 
into the upper gallery, and tries to imitate some eloquent ora- 
tor. His companion in speechification, W. L., T do not consider 
worthy of notice. But stop ; would it not be as well for me to go 
back twenty years, when some poor, old, peevish, fretful Or- 
thodox Friends wrote or were prepared to write just such re- 
marks about E. H ? However, I suffered in silence, which 
appears to be my lot in Quarterly Meetings ; and am more 
discouraged about poor old Bucks, than any of the quarters. 
I wish it distinctly to be understood that my objection to the 
ultra characters above alluded to, is that I think they are try- 
ing to overturn civil and religious government, and to intro- 
duce the anarchy of skeptical ranterisra, and, of course, are not 
in unity with their friends at home. 

2d. A very warm day, much prostrated in body, and quite 
feeble in mind, bub preciously visited about the time of the 
evening sacrifice, with the spirit of prayer, thanksgiving and 
praise, which enabled me to close my eyes in peace. 

3f?. Just returned from our Preparative meeting. It ap- 
peared to me rather too lazy a time with some of us, but my 
mind was silently impressed with that saying of the Saviour, 
"How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the king- 
dom of Heaven." The reason appeared to me obvious; for if 
a professor of the religion of Jesus has earilily rklici^ or treasurej 
where his treasure is there will his heart be also ; he is 
therefore satisfied with an earthly kingdom, like those whom 
the wo was pronounced against for being at ease in Zion, and 
trusting in the mountains of Samaria. Christ said, "wo unto 
you that are rich, for you have received your consolation." 

4^/i, In company with my wife, paid a social visit to my 



203 



brother-in-laW; Thomas Smith, of Wrightstown, where I receiv- 
ed information of a very discouraging character ; first, of the 
inconsistent conduct of a Friend, who has stood in the station 
of a recommended minister; secondly, of two young men, de- 
scendants of the old Smith family of Friends, who are now 
learning the trade of preaching, as mechanically as learning to 
be lawyers, and with worse selfishness and pride. I have been 
credibly informed that Doctor W., one of the most learned, 
eloquent and popular hirelings of latter times, and who had 
once been an eminent lawyer, some time before he died, 'made 
use of a language like this: " Had I my time to go over again I 
think I would continue at the law, for I have found a better 
spirit among my brethren of the bar, than my brethren of the 
pulpit/' No doubt a very truth. Alas ! for the republic of 
America. Alas I for the cause of Christ on earth, if such dal- 
liers, such doll babies, are to continue to be flirted about by 
silly women, exercising a sorrowful and affecting influence over 
the rising youth. My soul is sick when I behold something 
like a prophetic vision opening before me, of the Roman Catho- 
lics,^ Episcopalians, and other deluded votaries of anti-Christ 
uniting together, like the Pharisees and Saducees among the 
wicked and forsaken Jews, to fall like them by the edge of the 
sword, and like them to be carried away captives ; and the 
New Jerusalem that came down from God out of Heaven, 
adorned as a bride for her husband, trodden down by infidels 
till the time of those infidels be fulfilled. 

6th. Had an invitation to the funeral of a woman in Wrights- 
town, to meet at the house to-morrow at 9 o'clock. Yery 
doubtful whether I shall be able to go. 

Qth. First day ; our meeting pretty large, considering it was 
one of the warmest days I ever knew in this month. Our friend 
Joel Layer, from Plymouth, I thought preached the gospel, 
and I had something to say, not very savory to myself, and 
much less to some others. Ah ! I am a poor old man, weak in 
body and feeble in mind, and I believe some Friends are get- 
ting very tired of me. 

7t7i, 8th, and 9th. Nothing worthy of notice — the weather 
very warm— my little strength almost exhausted — while I fear 
my time has been spent too idly for the last three days. 

10th. Our Monthly Meeting at Makefield. Before I went I 
heard of the death of Edwin H. Swain, oldest son of Charles 



204 

and Sarah Ann Swain, of Indiana, late of Newtown. The loss 
of this lovely boy, a lad of about 14, affected me very much; 
and what must be the sorrow of the parents I can scarcely 
conceive. The silent part of our meeting was to me a tender- 
ing but strengthening time, for my poor soul was favored with 
the spirit of unusually fervent prayer. G. M. W., from Salem, 
was with us and I thought spoke well. Indeed we had a good 
Monthly Meeting, for which I thank God and take courage. 

11th and 12th. Spent in my shop attending to my business. 
Had the company of a couple of young collegians, to whom I 
talked too freely for my own peace of mind. 

I am afraid 1 am wrong in the indulgence of unfriendly feel- 
ings towards one who has parted from her husband, the object of 
her youthful aiSPections, a poor wretched sinner, because he used 
her badly. But is bad usage a Sufficient reason for a Christian 
minister to leave and forsake a husband or a wife ? Did infinite- 
ly worse usage induce our Heavenly pattern to go and leave his 
sinful people, the hard'heat-teid tlbeli^ving Jews ? No ; he laid 
down his life to save them, and I verily believe it is the duty of 
every Christian man, and every Christian woman to be willing 
to lay down his or her life for A husband or wife. 

l^th. First day. A large gathering of people ; the silent 
part of the meeting was to me a blessed time, wherein my exer- 
cised soul was comforted and encouraged in spiritual prayer, 
thanksgiving and praise : but I thought there was a little jostle 
by one of our goodly Friends, who, I fear, like some of the rest 
of us, thinks quite enough of himself, undertaking to preach 
the new doctrine that the right way to kill the Devil, was to love 
him to death. I confess that his preaching was paradoxical to 
me, and as I do not believe what I cannot understand, I must 
leave it. After I took my seat iti meeting, I was requested to 
spread an invitation to the funeral of John Knowles, a friend- 
ly man, a little older than myself, and like me he has appear- 
ed consumptive for several years. His case brought an awful 
solemnity over my mind; 

14:th. In company with my old friend, Joseph Briggs, at- 
tended the funeral of John Knowles. He appears to have 
been generally respected ; for much people were in attendance, 
though his hjibitsltion was small. Agreeably to my divine 
Master's comndandment I tried to go without purse or scrip, 
and felt so poor in spirit when I took my seat by the house, 



205 



that I could not get at one crumb of heavenly bread, or one 
drop of living water, but [ soon felt the necessity of standing 
forth in the midst, when to my astonishment, my drv withered 
soul was quickened into life, and to me it was a satisfactory 
opportunity. I was applied to by a tender mother and her son 
to visit her husband, now near his end; but I had to make the 
excuse I have had to offer for some time, that my hearing was 
so dull and my cough so troublesome, I was no longer *fit to 
visit the sick, and must try to visit more in spirit and with 
Divine assistance pray for them. Oh! that I was righ- 
teous enough for this great work, for we are told in holy 
writ that the fervent effectual prayer of the righteous avaiieth 
much. 

15th and IQfh. Had another evidence of the important 
truth that like will beget its like. I took a sign, which I 
had painted to a store-keeper, and told him my price, but ob- 
served that I was afraid it was too much, and if he thought so, 
I would make it less. The store-keeper paid me cheerfully, only 
manifesting a fear that I had charged too little. Ah ! there 
is such a thing as dealing on Christian principles, there is such 
a thing as doing right and being happy in this world. 

lltJi. Our midweek meeting. Dear E. S. furnished my 
mmd with evidence that if she keeps humble she will make a 
workman in the ministry that need not be ashamed. Ah ! there 
IS the danger— keeping humble— the Lord will continue to 
teach her of his ways, always guiding her in the nath of true 
judgment. We had a good meeting. 

iSth and 19th. Diligent at my trade and business, which 
must be right for me, as it brings peace of mind. 

20th. First day— a large meeting, but I fear a bad one for 
poor me, for I thought it my duty to speak, and really it was 
one of the hardest throughs I ever had. The text given me was 
a hard one, and my exposition of it was hard, rough and un- 
pleasant to myself; and I think it was most likely so to all that 
heard me. ^ Indeed I have but one comforting reflection, and 
that is, I tried to do my Eeavenly Father's wHl and not my 
own, and most sincerely prayed that not one word should es- 
cape my lips but what would promote my dear Redeemer's 
cause. 

2\st and 22d. Attending to my little farming business, and 
working in my shop, where I got a little relief from my distress 

IS 



•206 

of mind siuco First day, by a Friend telling me that lie had 
fujl unity with my testimony. But whether he was a messenger 
from the good spirit or the bad, I must leave, and be willing 
to suifer if I have done wrong; and if not, I ought to be will- 
ing to suffer for the gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jcsits 
OhrisL 

tlod and 2Ath. Our midweek meeting to-day, and a precious 
meeting it was to me, for I was favored to keep silent and have 
a prayer meeting. My dear sister in the gospel, E. S., I 
thought was led to preach with the Holy Ghost sent down 
from heaven, and her husband spoke a few words with eight 
and solemnity. But I am almost put out with preaching elders, 
and I am almost ready to think that, according to our order, 
when an elder so frequently undertakes preaching, he ought to 
withdraw from the sislect meeting. 

2bt]i. My dear friends, B. P. and wife, came to see me, and 
although it was peculiarly pleasing to have a visit from an old 
friend whom I had so much loved, I thought I could discover a 
change in him ; instead of that open, child-like simplicity, there 
was a prudent reserve and caution, — a studied course of eon- 
duct, after the traditions of men, — after the rudiments of the 
world, and not after Christ. But such is the wisdom of schools, 
and such the distinguished advocates for scholastic education. 
My friend spoke of the improvements making, and about to 
be made in the buildings of West-town boarding school, which 
led my mind to the conclusion that such seminaries were anti- 
christian, and would succeed in the same way and spirit that the 
Roman Catholic policy has, and will prevail " by money, all 
powerful money," drawn from the deluded votaries of anti 
Christ by the still more powerful policy of priestcraft. 
Let the reader of these remarks turn to the history of the Catho- 
lic church after the reformation, when their immense funds 
were appropriated to such seminaries of education, and see the 
astonishing influence of the " De propaganda fide ;'^ let him then 
behold a miniature likeness in such seminaries as West-town 
and Haverford, and the manner in which they are to be sup- 
ported. When Judas sold his Saviour for money, he wound 
up his sad career by throwing the price of his everlasting ruin 
at the feet of the priests in the temple ; and arc not rich 
Orthodox Friends — especially such as have no children — whose 
money has been drawn from the vitals of the humbly industri- 



207 

ous, by usury and rents, too often mingled with the tears of 
sorrow and the sighs of despair — pursuing a similar course by 
throwing their pieces of silver at the feet of priestcraft in these 
temples of worldly wisdom, while poor Lazarus can scarcely 
get a crumb from their tables, experiencing more mercy and 
compassion from the dogs licking their sores. Liberal dona- 
tions to charitable institutions cannot save a deluded soul from 
" going out of the world without Grod, without hope, without 
one comfortable assurance from the sacred ransom of a suffering 
Saviour," who emphatically declared, " It is easier for a camel 
to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter 
into the kingdom of heaven." Alas ! for poor me ; mj exclusive 
attrichment to the doctrines of the New Testament, where I am 
informed that God manifested himself in the fulness in the 
person of an hamble, illiterate carpenter, who was rejected, 
despised and hated by the learned priests and scribes of that 
day, has completely disqualified me for swimming with the 
popular current, and hence I am looked upon as a poor, igno- 
rant, obstinate enemy to scholastic education. 

2Qth. Had a visit from a young man whose father is said 
to bo a rich Jew in Philadelphia, lata of Attleborough, where 
he got sadly o'Tondcd at me for speaking against Friends hav- 
ing anything to do with a great foolish college in that place, 
which has swindled rich Friends out of some of their superflu- 
ous cash, and stands now as a monument of their folly. The 
young man appeared to me a lovely, interesting youth. Went 
in the afternoon to Warminster with my wife to see my 
children. 

27th. Went to Horsham meeting; it being First day, the 
meeting was pretty large, and having spent the morning in 
reading the Journal of that faithful and dedicated servant of 
the Lord, Hugh Judge, I felt myself a mere child, yea, less 
and worse than a child, a fool, a nothing, compared to such a 
precious Friend. I appeared, therefore, a poor beggar in the 
Divine sight, covered with sores from the crown of my head 
to the soles of my feet. Oh how I did beg for one crumb of 
heavenly bread, though I felt myself unworthy the favor, but 
which was graciously granted, and I had an humbling, good 
meeting, in solemn silence. My dear sister in the truth, Eli- 
sabeth Warner, had a short but pertinent communication, and 
C M.^ a young man, spoke like Ephraitu, trembling, and I 



208 

think was exalted in Israel. Keturned in peace to my Lome 
and found all well. 

2Sth and 29^/?. Diligent in business, poor and quiet. Heard 
of the funeral of an old fiiend, M. E., of Solesburj ; felt a lit. 
tie unpleasant at not having an invitation to his funeral, but 
•was instructed in discovering my enemy, selfish pride, which 
was now wounded, and I bope will be slain. It is quite possi- 
ble that his children may have some selfish views in burying 
their father this afternoon, rather than to-morrow before meet- 
ing, for time saving andraonej^ saving inventions are becoming 
very fashionable. 

I have parted with A. P. an honest, industrious, smart 
young man near 19, who came to live with us to learn to be a 
painter and do the little farming on my lot of twelve acres, 
and he has learnt more at lettering in nine months, than any 
boy I ever had has learnt in five years. But he was too much 
like myself, he would speak what bethought, and was not suf- 
ficiently guarded in his thoughts, and I found myself too poor 
to pay him for working on my lot and find him clothes to 
please him, — so we parted peaceably, and I hope I have done 
my duty towards the young man, for whose present and ever- 
lasting welfare I feel sincerely desirous. 

SOth. Steadily at work in my shop, having now to do all my 
little chores myself- It may be best for me to exert my little 
strength to wait upon myself, for I am verily a poor, weak old 
man, and ought not to be proud. 

10th month 1st. Our mid-week meeting — silent. I toiled 
hard and got little or nothing. I fear that I was not suiFt- 
ciently attentive to the command of the Divine Master, 
and therefore did not cast the net on the right side of the ship. 

2d and od. Nothing of importance has transpired, but 
being favored through mercy with sufficient strength, I have 
worked night and day; for unless I am industrious and frugal, 
I shall go behind hand, which would be wrong, for beings 
as we are, created to glorify God, should always go for- 
ward in temporal things, as well as spiritual, for our souls 
were designed to shine with new accessions of glory, and 
brighten to all eternity. 

4th and 5th. Our First day meeting was large, and the si- 
lent part of it was peculiarly refreshing to my poor soul. A friend, 
, from New Jersey, was with us, and his testimony 



209 

was strengthening to my mind. To me it was a good meet* 
ing. The driest and warmest fall, thus far, that I can recol- 
lect. 

^thj 7th and StL Nothing particular but a continuation 
of very dry, hot weather. A remarkably healthy fall thus 
far. 

9th. Our Monthly Meeting, held at Newtown, at which 
were our dear friends, John Hunt and Isaac Bartram, from 
Darby. John had good service, and my daughter Elizabeth 
and I went with the friends to an evening meeting, at Make- 
field. Ah ! I feel myself a poor worthless thing ; like the 
heath in the desert, I know not when good cometh. Oh ! my 
poverty, my poverty, if I should die in this state, what will 
become of me ! And really I feel so weak, short-breath' d, 
and miserable, I may soon die like my father, in the old arm 
chair in the shop. 

IQth. Had an invitation to the funeral of Sarah Walton, 
wife of John Walton, near the Alms House, entirely out of 
the neighborhood of Friends. 

11th. Attended the funeral of S. W. Had to go ten miles 
by nine o'clock. Went poor and destitute, but went in obe- 
dience to what I thought to be the will of my Heavenly Fa- 
ther, and had an opportunity with the people to the peace of 
my own mind. 

12th and IMi. Did more work and better than I ever did, 
in the sanie time, for which I am thankful to my Heavenly 
Father, for the ability to work, and the poverty that drives 
me to it. Heard of the death of John Miller, Junior, a truly 
valuable Friend, who will be greatly missed. 

14:th and Ibth. Our mid week meeting I thought was well 
attended, and a profitable time, though my mind was under 
some serious discouragement, fearing I had jealousy, envy and 
malevolent feelings in my heart, against some of my brethren 
in the ministry, which led into a most serious and solemn 
search for the bause^ and I did most fervently beg of my bless- 
ed Saviour, that if it was a root of bitterness from the enemy 
of my soul, that the evil spirit, or devil might be cast out ; 
when it opened, I thought in the light that the hatred which 
I felt was towards that vanity, pride, and unbelief in these 
preachers, that I had discovered in myself, and had been and 
was so concerned to overcome, as a temptation from the prince 

18* 



210 

of the power of the air, who rules in the hearts of proud, as- 
piring preachers. 

IQih and 17th. Our once benevolent and highly respected 
M. J., wife of M. H. J., of this borough, has just passed out 
of time into eternity, and I can scarcely forbear expressing 
myself in a language somewhat like an eminent English wri- 
ter, on the death of the great English General, the founder of 
the British empire in India : '^ We view with sorrow the wreck 
of a great mind, r>^oduced by a most direful disease, made 
worse by more dir^fal remedies/' But I have a comfortable 
hope that her precious soul was saved from sinking in the tre- 
mendous gulf, by the hand of that merciful Saviour, to whom 
she prayed, and conducted safely into that city, whose walls 
are salvation, and whose gates are eternal praise. She died of 
a complicated dropsical disease, surrounded by her husband 
and children, and was buried on First day morning, the 18th 
inst,, before meeting. I went to the house with no expecta- 
tion, much less a wish, to speak, but felt myself called upon 
to offer a short exhortation, especially to the female part of a 
very large and respectable audience, and my dear elder brother 
Emm or Kimber, preached the Gospel with perspicuity and 
power at meeting ; and in the evening we had an interesting 
opportunity with the family, offering a word of encouragement 
and consolation. 

22c?. Our midweek meeting was a comfortable time, but 
the best time for me was by myself, before the people met. In 
the afternoon, G. H. and wife, and myself and wife, attended 
the wedding of M. B. and E. G., at the house of her father, 
J. G. I expect it was an orderly wedding of the kind, yet it 
appeared to me a light concern, but I suppose its time saving, 
and money saving qualities will be quite equivalent to the 
former religious dignity and weight, and, as it is a monied age, 
every thing must conform to the sovereign ruler, " the love of 
money.'' 

25ifA. This was First day. Our meeting wa» large and ap- 
peared to be under a lively exercise, in which our friend S. S. 
spoke a few words with dignity, tenderness and solemnity. 
Such a meeting is a nursery for a true Gospel ministry. 

28^A. Attended our select Preparative Meeting, at Make- 
field. It was to me a light^ hurrying time, with little or no 
feeling. 




7 /w^ 



211 

29th, Our midweek meeting, whicli was a solid, silent op- 
portunity. 

SOth and olst. Busily engaged in my shop, and in attending 
to my domestic duties. 

ll^A month ist. After attending our First day meeting, whicli 
was small, in consequence of the rain, I went in the afternoon 
to my brother, Isaac Parry's, in order to go with him to Phi- 
ladelphia Quarterly Meeting. 

2d. Attended the select Quarter, held at Cherry street, where 
I was rather disappointed and sorry to see L. M. and Gr. T., 
who, I understood, informed the last select Yearly Meeting 
that they were now decidedly opposed to such meetings, and 
had no unity with them. It was a precious meeting to me, 
where I had the agreeable company of dear George F. White, 
and other valuable Friends. 

3c?. Attended the general Quarterly Meeting, which was 
pretty large. Before it was settled, a member from New York 
State, commenced speaking with such high philosophy, and I 
fear, vain deceit, that I could not understand him, and to me it 
was exceedingly unpleasant ; but perhaps it was prejudice and 
party spirit that made me think so. He was followed by 
George F. White, in one of the most solemn and impressive 
G-ospel communications I think I ever heard, and I almost 
regret that I am not able to do justice to one of the most sub- 
lime and beautiful pictures of the mercy and goodness of God, 
through Jesus Chinst, to poor, lost, suffering souls, or I would 
try to record it. Suf&ce it to say, it appeared to me to have 
made so deep an impression on the meeting, that all the elo- 
quence and sophistry of L. M. could not dissipate it, although 
she exerted herself to the utmost. Whatever may be the end 
of the short, but certainly most luminous career of Gr. F. W. 
I know not, but at present I love him dearly, I hope in the 
fellowship of the everlasting Gospel. I trust that truth gain- 
ed the victory in Philadelphia Quarterly Meeting, in the 11th 
month, 1846, and I was encouraged. Notwithstanding I heard 
some things which were really painful, especially in the select 
meeting, from H. W. E,., who said he considered it very un- 
sound to apply the terms our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 
to the son of Mary. Oh! how unsound, according to his 
view, the apostles were. 

4:th and tth. Attended Abington Quarter, held at Horsham. 



212 . 

To me, both meetings were baptizing, cementing, and encour- 
aging seasons, for I was favored through all to be silent, grate- 
ful, and adore. Abington Quarterly Meeting, in the 11th 
month, 1846, appeared to me to be honorable, dignified, and 
encouraging to Friends, yet there was a discouraging consi- 
deration haunted my mind, which was, that one of the great 
purposes for which Friends were raised up as a people, ^^ to 
bear a consistent testimony against priestcraft,'' would fail; not- 
withstanding all the abuse of the priests by such as H. W . R., notic- 
ed before, who appear to me to be establishing themselves in de- 
ism, will amount to no more than the man we read of in the Acts 
of the Apostles, who was possessed of the Devil, but yet he 
could leap upon the sons of Sceva, who were chief of the 
priests, and prevail against them, and drive them out naked, 
and wounded, but that was all he could do, for the Devil kept 
possession of him. Therefore, it appears to me that these sons 
of Sceva and chief of the jmests, will increase as they did in 
the second century, in spite of all the fuss that men and wo- 
men possessed of the Devil are making, for it remains an un- 
changeable, immutable position, that evil can only be over- 
come by good. The Devil and his agents will always fly from 
the presence of Jesus, and such consistent believers as the be- 
loved Paul, who was humble and industrious, and ministered 
to his own necessities, and them that were with him, by the 
labor of his own hands. But interlopers and unbelievers the 
Devil will withstand to their faces with a language like this, 
'' Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are ye." At the 
last Quarterly Meeting I attended, there was a lovely woman 
who appeared to speak with the tongues of women and angels; 
but in following her from her theory to her practice, if 1 am 
not mistaken, she will be found living in ease and idleness, on 
something like a thousand dollars a year, drawn from the poor 
renter, or the poor debtor, by usury, while she, like too many 
modern Quaker ladies, nurses that fanatical melancholy, that 
so destroys the energies of her body, that she cannot fix her 
own clothing, but must impose upon more industrious women. 
I am awiire that I make myself liable to be charged with be- 
ing an accuser of the brethren, and so ungentlemanlike as to 
expose 4he character of a sister in the Gospel. But alas! 
what am I to do ? In my hand I hold the New Testament, 
which I have always accepted as eternal truth. This informs 



•21S 

ine that our Soli/ Head, the Loi^d Jesus Christ, who created all 
things, and hy whom all things consist, took upon himself the 
form of a servant, and humbly and industriously worked at 
the trade of a carpenter, for the support of his own outward 
body, and that of his widowed mother. Being meek and 
lowly of mind, he taught the primitive believers the great and 
indispensable doctrine of humble industry, which they prac- 
tised. How then can I reconcile proud, idle, Christian minis- 
ters, with the truth as it is in Jesus ? How can I help coming 
to the conclusion that the practical deficiency among us min- 
isters in coming up to the line of Divine appointment is the 
cause of the present failure of the Society of Friends^ in 
answering the purpose for which they were intended, and 
of the astonishing increase of hireling priests in protestant 
Christendom. 

Qth and 7f7i. Industriously engaged in my shop, feeling 
peace in a review of m}^ late religious visit, and in securing 
the arrangement for publishing the work I verily believe it 
was my religious duty to give to the people. 

8th. First day. Our meeting small, but comfortable and 
edifying. Our dear E. S. appeared in a feeling testimony. 

9ch and 10th. Spent in close application to business, with 
some thought of trying to get to Salem Quarterly Meeting, 
held at Woodbury, but felt myself released from making an 
exertion, which might have been too much for me, in my pres- 
ent feeble state of health. 

12lh. Just returned from our midweek meeting; the silent 
part of it, spent in secret supplication, was relieving, comfort- 
ing, and strengthening to my poor soul. M. S. spoke a few 
words with great propriety of speech, but it appeared to me to 
want life. But is not that ap)pearance owing to my prejudice 
against her ? I fear that it is ; for I have let in a notion, and 
I hope only a notion, that she is a very proud, self-righteous 
woman, and if so she cannot be in a Christian spirit, and con- 
sequently is not fit to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. But 
thou knowest, blessed Saviour, the secrets of all hearts^ and 
oh ! if I am wrong, put me right. 

ISfh and 14ith. Industriously employed in my shop. 

Ibth. First day. Still continues dull and rainy. Our meet- 
ing too large to be held in one end of the house. A solid, 
serious opportunity to some of us. Our dear friend, J. M. S.., 
I thought^ preached the Gospel in a few words. 



214 

16^A, 17th, and iSfA. Too closely engaged at work in my 
isliop, for the health of either body or mind. Ah ! my poor 
zig-zag nature predisposes me to extremes. 

Idth. Our midweek meeting. A good time for some of us, 
whom our modern reformers consider poor, deluded, supersti- 
tious, ignorant Quakers, because we esteem it a great privilege 
to meet together to worship our Heavenly Father in spirit and 
in truth, waiting for the blessed appearance of the great God, 
and our Saviour, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us, that 
he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself 
a peculiar people, zealous of good works. But our wise 
modern reformers consider such rema. ks mere nonsense, now, 
as mankind have become too much enlightened to be influenced 
by such old, stale, superannuated opinions, as are contained in 
what is called the Scriptures. Ah ! every sensible feeling of 
my soul responded to the short, feeling testimony of truth, de- 
livei-ed by my younger brother, J. M. S., when he said in sub- 
stance, that infidelity appeared to be gaining ground, and that 
the standard of truth was trodden under foot with impunity. 

20th, 21st. Spent in my shop, and devoted to humble in- 
dustry, which produces peace and plenty. 

2!2(/. First day. A pretty large meeting, and to me a memo- 
rably good one, for my poor soul was favored to have access 
to the thi^one of grace, in solemn, silent supplication. I am 
thankful for the ftivor of being silent in our religious meetings. 

2Sd and 24:th. Diligently employed in my shop, but not so 
fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, as I could wish; but was 
favored at times with the spirit of living prayer, which is always 
comforting to my poor soul, when, in self-abasement, I can beg 
for preservation. 

2hth. Our select Quarterly Meeting, held at Middletown. 
A very rainy day, and of course many of our members absent • 
but we had the truly acceptable company of S. H., foimerly 
S. U., and D. C. S. H. has now married a rich man, with 
no children, and I fear that ease and idleness may sully her 
beautiful gift in the ministry; and if so, it will furnish my mind 
with anotlier evidence of the truth of our Lord's sayings, that 
liis disciples cannot serve God and mammon. While this 
dear woman was a poor widow, she certainly was a precious 
minister. D. C. appears to be a valuable young minister, and 
bis communication among us to-day was to me peculiarly in- 



215 

structive. He made a parable of an inconsistent farmer, wto giif- 
fered tlie pernicious thistle, carrot, and running briar, to grow 
in his own field, while he was continually finding fault with 
other farmers for letting weeds grow in theirs. This led to 
the following reflections, which I tried to express, but thought 
I made out very poorly, and was only comforted that I spoke 
in the cross to my own will. " That spirit of unbelief which 
I fear is increasing in the minds of some ministers and elders in 
the Society of Friends, I compare to the Canada thistle, 
which, when it gets root, will grow even in the middle of the 
great road, and is dreadfully destructive amongst grain and 
hay; and it is said that the poor thoughtless sheep will pick 
it out from amongst other fodder, and eat it, like they do the 
poison laurel : such as ministers who can say that a Roman 
priest in Ireland has done greater works than Jesus Christ, 
and that there are now many greater reformers than he was — 
that Friends' silent worship is a mere humbug; that there are 
some good things in the New Testament, if they could be sepa- 
rated from the absurdities that are in it; and that the book of 
Samuel is not to be depended upon, having been written by 
no body knows who. These sentiments being written in books, 
periodicals, and papers, are to be found in too many Friends' 
houses, and I really fear in company with Paine's Age of Rea^ 
son, and other pernicious books. Too often, alas ! our nega- 
tively innocent, unconscious youth, pick out these books, and 
read them in preference to the Scriptures and Friends' writings, 
which are soon turned into ridicule, as bigoted, contracted pro- 
ductions, not fit to be read in this enlightened age. Mean- 
while our enemies, the priests and Orthodox, are laughing in 
their sleeves at the fulfilment of all their predictions. Such 
elders as can publicly, privately, and practically, unite with 
the foregoing sentiments, and at the same time declare they 
know nothing about such books, and express their astonish- 
ment that the subject should be mentioned, I fear add falsehood 
to dissirnulation, and thus prove that the fear of the Lord as 
a fountain of light, has not preserved them from that snare of 
death, self-righteousness. 

This spirit I compared to wild carrot, whose white blossom 
and genteel appearance is somewhat beautiful to a superficial 
observer, while its poisonous seed is blown over the land, to 
the great injury of the precious wheat. Such Friends, not- 



216 

wltlistandlng their plain outside appearance, and activity in 
our meetings for business, professing great concern for the 
Indian and the xVfrican, and the spreading of useful knowledge 
\>j means of scholastic education, are enemies to the cross of 
Christ, and the baneful influence of their spirit and example 
on their families, justifies the saying of the inspired prophet, 
that the " fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's 
teeth are set on edge/' Hence the pride, the arrogance, the 
scoffing, jeering, and game-making spirit among too many of 
our young members. Others appear like the Felixes and the 
Gallios, that care for none of those things, but are content to 
creep along on the f\ice of the earth, like the running briar, 
stronger and deeper in the earth than out of it ; influenced by 
the strongest law of their common nature called self, they 
are rough and thorny in their spirit, and whoever puts forth 
his hand to touch their interest, will be scratched and wound- 
ed. This spirit being earthly, is sensual, if not devilish ; 
hence that covetousness and love of money, that leads members 
of the Society of Friends to grind the face of the poor, making 
them pay a six per cent, interest for money, when they know 
it is not worth it, or such a rent as is an oppression, mani- 
festing a meanness and unmanliness that is disgraceful : hence, 
too, the want of moral rectitude amongst too many of our 
members, who are on the highway to become common drunk- 
ards, visiters of taverns, and, I fear I may add, houses of ill 
fame. Alas ! what was presented before us at our last County 
Court? Two members of the Society of Friends arraigned be- 
fore the said Court, and condemned — one for stealing, the 
other for a riot, and being a common nuisance. Alas ! I say, 
for the character of our once respectable Society. 

I am thankful that I have been permitted to sufi"er with the 
sufi'ering seed, in the several Quarterly Meetings constituting 
this Yearly Meeting, and in silent supplication to say, ''Spare 
thy people, Lord, and give not thy heritage to a reproach." 

2Qth. Our general Quarterly Meeting -, hardly as large as 
usual, the weather being cold and unpleasant. One of our 
ranters made a speech, of a cold, stale, and to me unpleasantly 
personal character, scarcely worthy of notice. Then S. 11. 
delivered an appropriate discourse, which appeared to have a 
good efi'ect upon the congregation. However, be that as it 
may, we certainly had a better Quarterly Meeting than we had 



217 

at tlie Falls, three months ago. I was constrained at the close 
of the meeting, and from a real sense of religious duty, to speak 
in substance as follows : '^ That our meetings for religious 
worship grew out of the great conviction of our early Friends, 
that Jesus Christ had come without sin unto salvation, to fulfil 
his great promise, recorded in the 14th chapter of John, to 
teach his people himself, and to purify them from all iniquity, 
and that they might be zealous of good works. Hence their 
concern to meet together, to wait for the blessed appearance of 
the great God, and their Saviour, Jesus Christ : for in this 
blessed appearance they recognized what the Lord's prophet 
saw in heavenly prospective, a wonderful Counsellor, the mighty 
God, the everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace; and 
that of the increase of his kingdom there should be no end. 
Being fully persuaded it was their religious duty thus to meet 
together, nothing could deter them from faithfully attending 
their religious meetings twice a week, even at the risk of their 
health, their property, their liberty, and their lives. But none 
of these things grieved them, neither did they count their lives 
dear, that they might win Christ, and when he appeared among 
them as a quickening spirit, such was the tenderness and con- 
trition, that the floor of the meeting house would frequently 
be wet with their tears, when not a word was spoken. And 
after all their tremendous sufferings for this precious testimony 
of worshipping a Heavenly Father in solemn silence, are we to 
be told now that it is nothing but a humbug, or an abomina- 
tion in the Divine sight ; and that, too, by some of our own 
ministers. Alas ! for the Society of Friends, should this spirit 
gain the ascendancy, which I humbly hope will not be the 
case.'' I was likewise led to state, in reference to my own ex- 
perience, that although some might pity me as a fool, and oth- 
ers ridicule me as an enthusiast, I did verily believe, that 
every Christian pilgrim must pass through the same tempta- 
tions, according to their degree, that the Captain of their sal- 
vation passed through ; and we read that he was led into the 
wilderness, and there tempted of the Devil, first to command 
the stones to be made bread, and secondly, being placed upon 
the pinnacle of the temple, to cast himself down ; and thirdly 
and lastly, he was offered all the kingdoms and glory of this 
world, with all their riches, if he would worship the Devil. 
But the dear son of God rejected them all, with these con- 

' 19 , 



21« 

elusive reasons : ^' It is written that man is not to live by 
bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the 
mouth of G od, and that he should worship the Lord his God, 
and him only should he serve/' Now it appears to me that 
all who are called to follow Jesus Christ, when, coming up to 
the perfection of their first nature, are tempted with pride, 
which, if given way to, their hearts become hard and their 
spirits fierce, and if they profess to be religious, their religion 
is like that of Saul of Tarsus, whilst he was .a satellite of the 
priests — exceedingly mad against those who differed from him. 
This state of mind is hard, like a stone, and their impetuous 
zeal, which is not according to knowledge, drives them impe- 
riously to command this stone-like state to be made bread. 
Hence, the seed of the kingdom of heaven, which is suffering 
within them, ^' suffereth violence, and the violent take it by 
force." Hence, too, the origin of that religious persecution 
and bloodshed that has disgraced the cause of religion. These 
become an easy prey to the two following temptations, and 
consequently, children of the Devil, or deluded votaries of 
anti-Christ, Such as withstand this first temptation, witness 
an enlargement of soul and an increase of light, which cannot 
be hid under a bed or a bushel, and therefore they become the 
subjects of the praise of silly women and the flattery of fools, 
which assist the Devil in placing them on the pinnacle — a 
state of spiritual pride and presumption. This formidable 
temptation generally takes place at the meridian of life, when 
the reasoning powers are the strongest ; self-righteousness 
and presumption take them by the hand ; the Scriptures, that 
were once read with tears, are superceded by newspapers and 
other periodicals, and, though containing the most important 
history, the purest mor£ility, and the finest strains of poetry 
and eloquence that is to be found in any book, in whatever age 
or language it may have been comj)Osed, are considered weak, 
insipid, and absurd, in comparison with the publications of 
this enlightened age. And even that glorious personage recog- 
nized by the primitive saints as the Saviour of the world, is 
considered nothing more than a man, and perhaps inferior to 
the great Catholic priest of Ireland. If such are preachers, 
they appear to me to have entered the wide gate, and are 
travelling the broad way to downright unbelief in the Christian 
religion ; or in other words, like William Cowper's brother 



219 

Joimj wishing and trying to establish themselves in Deism. 
If such as these profess to be Quakers or Friends, they ques- 
tion the authenticity of every passage of scripture which they 
cannot comprehend by their reason, and even consider their 
own sermons and writings, equal, if not superior, to the Scrip- 
tures, which now present to their darkened minds many para- 
doxical contradictions ; for the light that was once in them 
having become darkness, how great is that darkness ! This 
appears to me to be the tremendous temptation presented to 
Society, both in their collective and individual capacity, and in 
proportion as we have yielded to the temptation, divisions 
have taken place among the wrestling seed of Jacob, and a 
sorrowful scattering in our spiritual Israel : and it is my duty 
to proclaim to such as these, in the fear of Him who is the 
dread of nations, that if they do not return to their first love, 
they are in a fair way to become fallen angels, or Devils in- 
carnate — for remember what is written, " Have I not chosen 
you twelve, and one of you is a Devil V He spoke of Judas, 
the son of Simon, that betrayed him ; a man who once had a 
precious gift in the ministry, and was actually employed in 
preaching the glad tidings of the Grospel to the people. Oh! 
my soul, is not this an awful consideration ? 

I have cause for humble thankfulness, that, whilst passing 
through temptations on ^' the pinnacle,^' that I was preserved 
from indulging a disbelief of the Holj Scriptures, or the 
great doctrines of the Christian religion, as professed by 
Friends ; but I am free to confess that I listened too much to 
the songs of silly women, and fell a victim to the sinful feelings 
ofj-ealousy, envy, and ill will, the inseparable companions of 
spiritual pride, against my brethren and sisters in the ministry ; 
and was sadly tormented when I heard the women singing after 
them. My heart being now hard, the Scriptures that I once 
read with tenderness and contrition, lost in my view much of 
their interest, and I preferred reading more fashionable books ; 
and midweek meetings, which I once loved to attend, to weep 
and pray, became a burthen to me, although I never dared to 
omit them. But in the midst of all these temptations, the 
Heavenly Shepherd never entirely left me, but extended the 
crook of his loving kindness, for my preservation from selling 
my Saviour, like Judas, or even asking his greatest enemies, 
the priests, what they would give me. Indeed I am thankful 



220 

that I never frequented their company, even to warm myself 
with their servants, like Peter; but alas ! like Peter, I have too 
often drawn my own sword in the spirit of war, and cut off, as 
it were, the right ear of those with whom T was contending. 
Like Peter I have lied, like Peter I have sworn, and like Peter 
I have wept tears of bitter repentance ; but never, never like 
Judas, sold my Saviour fur money. Oh ! blessed preservation ! 
may my soul bow in humble thankfulness, adoration, and 
praise, to him that sitteth upon the throne, and the Lamb. 
Therefore the great temptation of the riches and honors of the 
world, have but little influence upon me at this period of my 
life, and the testimonies given me to bear, are not likely to in- 
crease my danger. I have therefore an humble hope that I 
shall not be a .worshipper of the Devil. 

I fear there are too few that get through this temptation on 
^^ the pinnacle," without being sadly crippled by the Devil, and 
some of us jjreachers so much so, as to remain in bondage to 
the love of money, the love of power, and the love of fame. 
Hence the increasing- number of preacbers who can live like 
worldly-minded gentlemen, clothed as it were with purple and 
fine linen, faring sumptuously every day ; and Quaker minis- 
ters who can live on usury in ease and idleness, although they 
may preach with the tongues of men and angels, and be as in- 
dustrious in travelling as Jesuit missionaries, how will they 
stand to be judged before the humble carpenter, with the ex- 
ample of the industrious tent-maker, as a witness against them. 

27th, and 28;^^. Industriously engaged in my business, 

29th. First day. I had a favored meeting in solemn si- 
lence, and was thankful for preservation. M. S. gave us a 
grammatical communication, and M. F., from Trenton, spoke a 
few words with solemnity and propriety. 

SOth. My dear old aunt, Sarah Hibbs, died this morning, at 
the advanced age of ninety-one. I think she was an innocent, 
good woman. 

12th month 1st. Busily employed in my shop. 

2d Aunt Sarah's house being too small to hold her relatives, 
Friends thought best to have the meeting in the meeting house. 
The corpse was therefore brought in, and it was to me a solemn 
and interesting opportunity. 

SfZ. Oar Preparative meeting. I did not labor hard enough 
for the blessing of a good meeting, and therefore got but little 



221 

pay; but I ought to be content with my wages. Felt a little 
too Orthodox at one of our active members, who I am told does 
not walk orderly towards those who are without, and therefore 
there is not a good report of him; yet he will keep talking in 
meeting for business, and that, too, while sitting on his seat. I 
reproved him openly according to the advice of the apostle, 
and he retorted. I felt uncharitably towards him, but I was 
silent; of course I did not manifest my feelings. 

4:th. I awakened thib morning with a renewed conviction and 
confirmation of the dreadful consequences of an Orthodox 
Spirit. It was unnecessary for me to hunt up some of my poor 
Orthodox Friends, to try to fit the spirit as a coat upon their 
backs, for I could find nobody that it would fit better than my- 
self; for my friend, J. M. S., having been at Burlington quar- 
ter, told me that a certain B. R. P., sotnewhat remarkable for 
his poetry and oloquence, and I think still more remarkable for 

"Conceited thoughts indulged without control," 
displayed his oratorical powers on the subject of moral reform, 
to great efl'ect on the silly women, male and female, that were 
present at said meeting; and that a certain J. J., who has be- 
come somewhat distinguished for his boldly and eloquently ques- 
tioning the authenticity of the Holy Scriptures, had published 
another edition of his work, and had brought two of our most dis- 
tinguished ministers, J. C. and E. S., as auxiliaries to help him 
confirm the charges our enemies have brought against us. I 
say the information received, made me unhappy, and upon ex- 
amination found I was in a state of mind towards these two 
young members of Society, for Friends I cannot call them, that 
would rejoice to hear evil of them. Viewing my state of mind 
in this light, I was really ashamed of myself to think how se- 
verely I had censured such old Orthodox Friends, as R. J., J. 
E., J. W., &c.; and here I was in the same spirit, and, getting 
the wallet fairly turned, I not only saw that I was in that old 
persecuting spirit, but that I was comparable to a liar, and a 
murderer, agreeably to the Apostle John's exposition ; '' Who- 
so saith he loveth G-od and hateth his brother is a liar ; for 
how can he love Grod whom he hath not seen, while he hateth 
his brother whom he has seen ; and he that hateth his brother 
is a murderer. '^ 

I wish distinctly to be understood, that I verily believe my 
young brothers are wrong, very wrong, yet this may be a mat- 

19* 



222 

tor of opinion in 'comparison to the matter of fact, that I am 
destitute of that heavenly charity that rejoiceth not in iniquity, 
while I am indulging such evil thoughts. Oh ! how I begged 
on the bended knee of my soul, of my blessed ^Saviour, for 
grace sufficient to overcome this evil; for if I can, through this 
grace of God, experience an overcoming of this dreadful sin, 
then, and then only, can I sit down with him on his throne 
agreeably to his blessed promise, '' He that overeometh shall 
sit with me on my throne, even as I have overcome and am 
set down with my Father on his throne," then, and then only, 
can my poor soul make the acknowledgment embraced in that 
inimitable prayer the blessed Saviour taught his disciples, 
"thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and 
ever, Amen." 

But there is another view of this subject that I think is 
worthy of notice. If I understand what a true Christian state is, 
it is self-abasement — the soul abhors itself in dust and ashes ; 
and if I understand what an anti-christian state is, it is self- 
righteousness, self-exaltation. These two states are at anti- 
podes ; that is, right opposite to each other. Now I would 
ask, can a deluded votary of anti-Christ be a brother to a 
truly humble Christian, or can there be any unity between 
them ? If a true Christian abhors himself, he must abhor that 
same self in his fellow creature ; of course they cannot be 
brethren in the relation alluded to, by the apostle John — but 
I leave the question to be solved by others. 

6th. Quite unwell with a bad cold ; but how wonderfully I 
have been favored, this being the fii'st cold I have had for six 
months. 

QtJi. First day — our meeting large, and our dear E. S. gave 
us what I thought a real gospel exhortation, which tended to 
edification and comfort; but poor me thought it right to speak, 
and I am afraid some might think it a hedge podge piece of 
stuff: however, I feel no condemnation for exposing myself, 
and there I must leave it. But having made a bungling refer- 
ence to an affecting and painful circumstance of a young 
woman, I think a member of Wrightstown Monthly Meeting, 
who had recently joined the Methodists — who committed sui- 
cide — I will simply repeat the most affecting part. She told a 
cousin of mine that the Scriptures and other good books were 
not read in her father's family. Now when I knew her father, 



223 

lie was a memlber among Friends, and wore a plain coat. H"s 
subsequent conduct, and present condition, if living, is too 
painful to record, and having alluded to liim as a steam Doc- 
tor, in the narrative of my life, I shall leave him to the mercy 
and forgiveness of God through Jesus Christ, the darling at- 
tribute of mercy, and just add that my feelings in relation to 
the final destiny of the poor dear daughter, were of a tendering 
and encouraging character, attended with sympathy and prayer 
for her sadly afflicted mother. Alas ! alas I is not the circum- 
stance above alluded to, additional evidence of the sorrowful 
fact, that the Society of Friends are declining from the sta- 
tion they once held in the Christian church. The Scriptures 
and other good books are superceded by newspapers, periodi- 
cals, romances, and the sermons of Unitarian pedlars. They 
are certainly changed from what they were, when I had my 
education amongst them. I never saw such a thing as a ro- 
mance, or a Unitarian sermon, much less Paine' s Age of Sea- 
son, which I never then heard tell of, notwithstanding Paine 
was then a popular man. I very well remember what my dear 
old adopted mother said of a Unitarian, who was on a visit 
from Philadelphia, that she was afraid to talk to him, for she 
considered him a Deist. 

Ith. Heard of the death of my old friend Benjamin Zelley, 
of old Springfield, N. J., about my age. I fii'st became ac- 
quainted with him at Tuckerton, or Great Egg Harbor, thirty- 
two years ago. He was then travelling as a companion to 
Clayton Brown, a valuable minister among Friends, while 
Stephen Comfort, senior, was my companion in travel. Oh ! 
how solemn the consideration that I only, of the four, am left 
in this world. 

8^A. Received a precious letter from my dear friend "William 
Folwell, rectifying a mistake, which was peculiarly relieving. 
Heard of the death of cousin Henrietta Hicks, at New York. 

Qth and l(itL Our Monthly Meeting held at Newtown. A 
laborious, hard meeting to me, owing no doubt to my careless- 
ness and unwatchfulness, though not without instruction. Had 
an invitation to the funeral of Joshua Paul, of Horsham. 
Received a friendly letter from Doctor Ralph C. Marsh, of 
Concord, Delaware Co., and one from Charles and Sarah Ann 
Swaine, of Indiana. 

The Doctor's letter contained some remarks on war, which re- 



224 

vived impressions touching tliat subject, which is now so much 
talked of, and it may be right for me to try to express or give 
some views that appear to be given me. 

" My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were 
of this world, then would my servants fight.'' This is the 
testimony of eternal truth, from which I argue that the sub- 
jects of the kingdoms of this world will fight, and alv/ays have 
fought, and I must rationally infer, that the subjects of the 
kingdom of Jesus Christ never did fight, never can fight, nor 
never will fif>-ht. The mission of Jesus Christ to our world, was 
to redeem man from the fighting state, and to restore him to 
the primeval harmony, when the fighting animal was governed 
by a rational soul, created in the image of God; infinite in its 
nature, and everlasting in its duration ; and this rational soul 
was governed by God himself, as his perfect child, possessing 
a portion of the same glorious attributes of infinite power, infi- 
nite justice, infinite wisdom, and infinite mercy, which are 
embraced in their perfection, in the everlasting Father. All 
who are thus restored are regenerated, and born again. This 
is the new birth ; old things being done away, all things are 
nev>^, and all things of God. These having grown to the stature 
of men in CJirist are Christians, and the truth having set them 
free, they are free indeed. Such are the subjects of Christ's 
kingdom, and servants that cannot fight with carnal weapons. 
AlWho have not witnessed this restoration and change of 
heart, are in their fallen and consequently fighting state, be- 
cause animal nature governs their souls; therefore they will 
fight by the same law that all male animals fight. Hence the 
great family of mankind in their fallen state, are like minor 
children, and can no more be called Christians with propriety, 
than boys can be called men. In this great family there is 
the same variety of capacity and understanding that would be 
found in twenty children, descended from one common parent, 
with one year's difference in their ages, or fifty children of the 
same difference in age and capacity. A wise and good teacher 
w^ould not ■ only have lessons suitable for the various classes, 
but rules and regulations adapted to their several ages ; and 
knowing that play was inseparable from the nature of a child, 
a judicious teacher would command the time and place, and 
enforce obedience to his commandments : thus establishing an 
important point — suhmission to suioerior power. Hence Paul 



225 

compares the law of Moses to a schoolmaster, which was added 
because of transgression, and to remain in force until Christ 
come, who is the end of the law for righteousness to all them 
that believe. Now it appears to me, that the infinitely wise 
and merciful Heavenly Father, knowing that his creature 
man, in Ms fallen skite, must fight, and would fight as 
naturally as the game cock, or any other animal creature, 
instituted laws to regulate his warlike spirit, and bring it into 
obedience to his commands, and into subservience to the great 
attribute of justice; therefore the most sacred and import- 
ant history presents to us some of the elder and more perfect 
children of this great family, such as Moses, Joshua, Gideon, 
David, &c., who were great warriors, but faithful, dignified 
servants of the Most High ; and as the law that embraces 
cc^reive government continues, the same, and must continue 
while men are in a fallen, and consequently fighting state, the 
Iiistory of latter ages presented to ns such warriors and bene- 
factors as Hampden, Yfashington, &c. Now it appears to me 
worthy of particular notice, that when the Saviour of the world 
came to save the souls of the childi-en of men from sin, by 
delivering them from the bondage of their animal nature, and 
putting them in possession of the glorious liberty of the chil- 
dren of God — I say it is worthy of particular notice, that this 
great minister of the sanctuary, and perfect pattern of ever- 
lasting righteousness, never spoke against such soldiers as 
Moses, Joshua, Gideon, and David, much less abused them, 
or pointed out, when in the temple and synagogues, whither the 
Jews resorted, their bloody acts and butcheries, or called in 
question the truths of those Scriptures, which contained their 
acts and sayings ; but we are informed that he manifested 
great kindness, and spoke in the highest terms of praise to a 
Roman soldier, declaring his faith exceeded the faith of all the 
Israelites. This soldier was not only brave, but he was noble, 
generous, humane, and humble; and of course a kind sympa- 
thising master to such as were placed under his . care ; and 
hence that solicitude for the restoration of his sick servant, 
which induced him to apply to the Divine Saviour, to cure his 
slave, as our modern abolitionists would call him, for there is 
no doubt that this excellent soldier was a slaveholder. 

Neither have I any recollection that Peter or Paul ever 
prostituted their tongues, or their pens, in abusing soldiers ; 



22G 

and in making tliem out murderers and butchers of the hnman 
family. But we are told that Peter had a most extraordinary 
meeting with a Roman soldier, who was not only noble and 
generous, but devout — at which time he was converted to 
Christianity : and Paul was saved from falling a sacrifice to 
religious fanatics, headed by wicked priests, by the generous 
bravery of a Roman General. These consistent and exemplary 
Christian ministers, so far from abusing the Government and 
the instruments that were made use of for its support, recom- 
mended and practiced daily prayers for them, deckring that ' 
'Hhe powers that be are ordained of God, and whoso resisteth 
the poW'Cr, resisteth the ordinance of God, and such as thus re- 
sist, bring upon themselves damnation.^' Such appears to 
have been the spirit and practice of the primitive saints. And 
in reading the history of early Friends, I do not remember 
that they manifested the persecuting, malignant, bitter spirit, 
which appears in some who go under the name of Friends in 
our day, towards soldiers -, for many of the first Quakers had 
been soldiers, or were the children of soldiers. The father of 
the illustrious Penn was a gToat soldier, and bore a noble tes- 
timony to the blessed truth, as professed by Friends, on his 
death bed. The two greatest preachers amongst them had 
been soldiers, and officers in the Parliamentary army ; and the 
preaching of one of them made such an impression on a 
soldier, who, I could wish to believe, was the excellent Colonel 
John Hampden, that he afterwards so effectually preached to 
two young men in a tavern, that they both became great 
preachers. The story, as 1 read it^ nearly forty years ago, is 
in substance as follows : 

Two gay young men of the world, in England, were one 
First day drinking in a tavern, and the subject of their di- 
version was the peculiarities of the Quakers. They had no- 
ticed a very serious, dignified officer of rank in the same room, 
a silent, and no doubt sorrowful, witness of their ignorance 
and folly, who thus addressed them: ^' Young men, you ap- 
pear to be making yourselves merry at the expense of a 
people who you are entirely ignorant of ; and as I once in- 
dulged the same contemptuous opinions, with ybur permission 
I will tell you how ray prejudices were superceded by love 
and respect for these most consistent Christians. After the 
battle of Dunbar, I was riding at the head of my regiment, and 



227 

saw at a little distance from the liigh-way a great collection of 
people ; and it being a time of revolution, I sent the advanced 
guard to ascertain their design, and, if evil, disperse them. 
They appeared peaceably to stay, and I marched up with the 
rest of the army, when I saw a Quaker preacher speakiug to 
the people with such power and Divine authority, that I trem- 
bled more at the sight of myself, under the powerful ministry of 
J. N., than I did at the battle I had just witnessed, when the bul- 
lets flew round me like hail. I therefore advise you to go and 
do as I did — go and see and feel for yourselves, and if I am not 
mistaken, you will change your opinion of them." This ser- 
mon, so unexpected, and coming from a soldier, had a won- 
derful effect on those two young men, and induced them to go 
the next First day, twenty miles to a Quaker meeting, where 
they were both convinced, and both became great ministers of 
the everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ. 

This story, if true, and I have no reason to doubt it, presents 
to our view a soldier in a very different light from what they 
are presented by modern reformers and upstart Quaker preach- 
ers.; for really I must sincerely confess, that I view myself, in 
comparison with such a soldier as Colonel John Hampden, as a 
mere insignificant imbecile, and have reason to fear that all the 
preaching I have done in my life, has not added as much to 
the stature of truth as the preaching of that soldier, whose 
character and dying sayings are thus spoken of by an eminent 
English writer: 

^'It was when, to the sullen tyranny of Laud and Charles, 
had succeeded the fierce conflicts of sects and factions, ambi- 
tious of ascendency, and burning for revenge, — it was when 
the vices and ignorance which the old tyranny had generated, 
threatened the new freedom with destruction, that England 
missed that sobriety, that self-command, that perfect soundness 
of judgment, that perfect rectitude of intention, to which the 
history of revolutions furnishes no parallel, or furnishes a pa- 
rallel in Washington alone. ^In the first charge Hampden 
was struck in the shoulder by two bullets, which broke the 
bones and lodged in his body' — then, ^with his head drooping 
and his hands leaning on his horse's neck, he moved feebly out of 
the battle/ 'A short time before his death, the sacrament was 
administered to him,' and ^ when all was nearly over, he lay 
murmuring faint prayers for himself and for the cause in whicii 



-2'2S 

be died. Lord Jesus, he exclaimed in the moment of his last 
agony, receive my soul — Oh Lord 1 save my country, — Oh 

Lord be merciful to , in that broken ejaculation passed 

away his noble and fearless spirit/' 

With this view, I cannot help looking round with anger on 
such unbelievers in Jesus Christ, as the apostles apeak of — 
presumptuous, despisers of governments, who are not afraid 
to speak evil of dignities— such soldiers and benefactors as 
Hampden and "Washington ; but I hope I am grieved at the 
hardness of their hearts and the deficiencies of their under- 
standing, and I certainly ought to pass by in silence, or treat 
with silent contempt, the impotent abuse of a silly New Eng- 
land girl, because the effervescence of the tongue of a terma- 
gant is not considered slander. But when a Quaker preacher 
breaks the commandment of the moral law that says, " Thou 
shalt not speak evil of the rulers of thy people,'^ and the dis- 
cipline of his own Society, abusing the government under 
which he lives, and encouraging a faction, which has for its 
object the dissolution of the Union, and the consequent intro- 
duction of anarchy and confusion, — I say, that when such pal- 
pable inconsistency presents itself, it cannot be passed by with 
impunity. I therefore feel it my duty to bear my feeble testi- 
mony against such false brethren; for I am grieved at my 
heart, when I consider that the infinitely wise and merciful Je- 
hovah has provided through distinguished instruments the most 
blessed asylum that we Quakers have ever had — a mild, gener- 
ous, and just government, which extends its wings of protec- 
tion over our civil and religious rights, that we preachers should 
manifest so much of the grovelling selfishness of the inferior 
animals, who enjoy the fruit, but never look up with gratitude 
to the source from whence the enjoyment comes; but, like 
them, trample the precious pearl under foot, and turn and rend 
the hand which presented it. And the manner in which too 
many treat the Holy Scriptures, justifies the caution of the Di- 
vine Master, " Give not that which is holy unto dogs." 

I repeat it again, that I am ashamed of every act and saying 
in my life, of the character above described, and I am ashamed of 
my brethren and sisters that have been permitted to live in 
the golden age of the best government under he^^ven, — in the 
land of Penn, and the vicinity of the city of brotherly love, — 
the lap of indulgence and luxury, and some, with a mushroom 



229 

popularity, that is dandling them about like doll-babies, standing 
within the walls of a peaceable Quaker meeting house, prating 
against the government that furnished the asylum ; and, not- 
withstanding their ugly spirit, still protects their heads from 
merited insult. Poor, contemptible, womanish weakness, which 
never felt the noble spirit of patriotism our Lord alludes to 
when he says, *^* Grreater love hath no man than this, that a man 
lay down his life for his friend." Upstarts, whose narrow 
contracted, self-righteous souls were never capable of entering 
into sympathy with the poor soldiers of 1776, their hardships, 
privations and sufferings, — whose footsteps were marked with 
their own blood, — whose tedious nights and wearisome days, 
involving the most awful responsibility, were so marked in the 
lines and configuration of the face of the illustrious Washing- 
ton, that the goodly young Quaker who visited him on busi- 
ness in Seventy-six, received such impressions of sympathy and 
respect, that he ever spoke of him with feeling reverence; and 
BJb the venerable age of more than fourscore, I heard him re- 
peat it with peculiar energy and simplicity. But this consis- 
tent Quaker was entirely different from those I have alluded 
to. He followed his heavenly pattern in the path of humble 
industry, and like him, maintained and cherished his widowed 
mother, and like him, was a poor, illiterate mechanic ; no mar- 
vel is it, then, that he should be entirely different from the pam- 
pered nurslings of a boarding school. ' 
I am perfectly aware that these strictures may give offence 
and confirm the charge that is brought against me of being in 
favor of war ; but I again declare, that the Prince of Peace 
came into the world to put an end to war, and to redeem man 
from his fighting state ; and hence, with legions of angels at 
his command, he bore the contradiction of sinners. His sacred 
countenance, impressed with divine glory, was spit upon, — he 
was buffeted, — he was scourged, and finally put to the ignomi- 
nious death of the cross, without making any resistance, 
praying in the last extremity for his enemies. ^' Father 
forgive them, they know not what they do." Ah! blessed 
Saviour, thy kingdom is not of this world, therefore thy real 
disciples never can fight with carnal weapons. Thy children, 
thy dear disciples, who heard thy gracious words, with their 
outward ears, as well as their inward, were instructed by thy 
example to make no resistance, but passively to submit to out- 

20 



230 

ward power, and to respect civil government, however corrupt. 
Thou didst even pay the tax that was laid upon thy people by 
the sword of the heathen, and thereby declared that the power 
of the Roman governor was given him from above. But, alas ! 
bow different is the precepts and example of thy professed 
followers of the present day. My very soul is grieved with 
the anarchy of the modern ranters now among Friends. 

llfh and 12th. Spent in my shop at work. Had an invita- 
tion to the funeral of Jacob Smith, of Lambertville, N. J. 
It was the particular request of his youngest daughter, who 
was quite a little girl at the death of her mother, whose funeral 
I attended ten or twelve years ago. 

13^/^. First day— a pretty large meeting, but not one of my 
good meetings, for I felt it my duty to speak, and I am afraid 

ither to edification or comfort. 

14^7?, 16th and l&th. Very busy in my shop; nothing that 
needeth notice. 

17th. Our midweek meeting ; a tremendous snow storm; 
notwithstanding, we had a good little meeting. 

l^th and Idth. Confined in my shop at work; very diligent 
in business, though evidently deficient . in fervency of spirit, 
serving the Lord. 

20th. First day, quite a large meeting, not very comforta- 
ble to me, for I thought it right to speak ; and if my speaking 
is as unpleasant to others as it is to me, it must have been an 
unpleasant time. 

21st, 22d and 2Sd. Diligently employed in my shop, but 
not sufficiently devout. How true is the saying, " Ye cannot 
serve God and Mammon. 

24ith. Our midweek meeting well attended. Our friends, 
J. M. S. and wife, had good service. I was silent, but too 
sbackling in spirit to be rightly benefitted ; or, at best, like 
Martha, busy and troubled about many things. Oh ! this 
restless, active mind, this all pervading, this all conscious 
soul, this particle of energy. Oh ! that it was more under 
the government of Jesus Christ as a quickening spirit. 

25^A, 2%tJi and 21tli. Attending to my business in my shop, 
and reading my new publication, which I call in the title page, 
" A little present for Friends and Friendly People, in the form 
of a miscellaneous discourse, by a poor illiterate mechanic." 
The work is well done, and but few mistakes of any conse- 
quence. I feel peace of mind in doing what I verily believed 



231 

to be my religious duty, and send it forth in tlie language of 
Young. 

Go thou minute devoted page, 

Go forth among thy foes — go forth, 

And suffer martyrdom for truth. 

2Mi. First day, a large, and to me a precious meeting, be- 
cause my poor soul was permitted to enter tbe house of silent 
prayer. My sister, S. W., spoke a few words of a radical 
character. Ah ! poor woman, she may really think that the 
religion we profess, is spoken against in the streets, because 
it is traditional, and handed down from the Bible; but it is 
quite possible that some who are acquainted with my sister's 
spirit and conduct, might take the liberty to think that one 
of the reasons that religion is cried against in the street, is 
that we preachers preach one thing, and practice another; or, 
in other words, we do not live up to our own doctrine. 

2^th, SOth and 31st Spent in my shop, and to avoid mo- 
notony, I must be short. 

1st month 1st, 1847. Exactly such a day as it was seven- 
teen years ago, warm and mild like spring. 

2d and Sd. The same; our First day meeting large, consi- 
dering the bad travelling, but I was too idle and shackling in 
spirit to earn any thing; I therefore came from meeting as I 
went, poor, and forced to be content with my wages. 

4:tJi. The same as seventeen years ago, rain and snow. I 
forgot to mention in its proper place, that I had an invitation 
to the funeral of the wife of John Smith, of Upper Makefield, 
whose funeral I attended the last day of the last year. It was 
to me a satisfactory opportunity. Next day there came to my 
house a stranger from the western part of the State of New 
York. He appeared to me to be one of those wrong headed, 
if not wrong hearted enthusiasts, who had been once precious- 
ly visited with the day-spring from on high, but was now 
splitting on the fatal rock of self-righteousness. Oh ! my soul 
be aware of that fatal rock. 

5 th and 6th. Nothing worthy of particular notice. 

7th. Our Monthly Meeting, held at Makefield; a very rainy 
day and bad roads ; notwithstanding, Friends turned out pretty 
well. I spoke in the first meeting, and an elder made some 
remarks, which I thought he had better let alone, and as he 
had so frequently spoken, even in our meetings for worship, 
apparently reflecting upon Gr. F. W.; and myself, for saying 



232 

hard things, without ever speaking to me privately, I was led 
in the Monthly Meeting to give forth something like a public 
reproof of such conduct, which I find met with the approba- 
tion of Friends generally. 

Sth and 9th. Spent in my shop. It seems a pity that my 
business should be of such a character as to be of no real use 
to any body but myself, being the only way that I can get an 
honest living. 

10(7i. First day; a large meeting for a stormy day, and a 
sad catastrophe was nigh taking place. Our aged friends, 
Benjamin and Martha Schofield, were coming to meeting with 
their daughter-in-law, Lydia, and three children, in the car- 
riage, with them 3 when near the entrance of the meeting 
house yard, the horses took fright and ran away, and coming 
in contact with a tree, which stands as gate post, the carriage 
was dashed to pieces, and the old folks were coDsiderably hurt, 
and it is a wonderful thing they were not killed. Oh ! the 
imcertainty of time; "In the midst of life, we may be nigh 
unto death." Notwithstanding the above circums-tance, we 
had a pretty comfortable meeting, which might have been 
more so if I had kept silent. 

11^^, 12t7L and l^fh. Diligent in business, but not fervent 
in spirit, serving the Lord, and therefore, like theheathinthe 
desert, a fear attends my mind, lest I should los-e that cMM- 
like, tender state, that I have so much desired io be found in. 

14:fh. Our midweek meeting, pretty weO attended, but a low 
time with poor me. But I am receiving the due reward of my 
deeds, for I have certainly lacked that fervency of spirit which 
becomes a Christian. 

16th and IQth. At work in my shop, with nothing worth 
noticing, but a dry, barren sense of my infirmities. 

17^^-. First day; a cold, raw, unpleasant feeling in the air; 
predisposing to chill. Notwithstanding, our meeting was quite 
large, and to me a precious good time, for I was favored to be 
silent, and to be an humble suppliant for mercy and goodness, 
to save my poor soul ; for, alas I I have no merit — no works 
of righteousness of my own, and therefore, if I be saved, it 
will be according to the mercy of a Saviour, who will wash 
my poor filthy soul in the laver of regeneration. A few words 
fi'om J. M. S. seemed to increase the solemnity, which, 
I fear, was preached all away by a silly little woman, a 
stranger. 



238 



19;^^, I yesterday met with tke great Lord Jeffrey's review 
of Clarkson's Portraiture of Quakerism. This nobleman I 
suppose, is considered at the head of the British critics, and 
is a tory judge of the Scottish sessions, and if I may be per- 
mitted to add my own supposition, a disciple of the great 
Lord Bolingbroke. With this view of this great wit, we can 
appreciate the full value of his criticisms on the people called 
Quakers. His severe strictures on the author of the Portrait- 
ure, I am perhaps too willing to wink at, in consequence of a 
prejudice against that old clergyman, for wheedling Friends in 
England out of money to educate his son for a hireling priest. 
But his paraphrase on the customs and doctrines of the Society 
of Friends, is, in my opinion, one of the weakest and most insig- 
nificant pieces of criticism I ever remember to have seen from 
any of their enemies. And, moreover, it appears to me not 
only weak, but absolutely false, as respects William Penn and 
his friends in Pennsylvania, I will not pretend to say that 
some of his remarks would not justly apply to some gloomy, 
melancholy Englishman, in the dark month of November, 
when his mind, like the atmosphere with which he is surround- 
ed, is so dark and murky that the Devil is tempting him to 
sell his Saviour for money, while he preaches up prudence 
and charity in a language like this, '^ Why was this waste of 
the ointment made ;" " for it might have been sold for more 
than three hundred pence and have been given to the poor -'' 
not that he has any Christian sympathy for the poor, but be- 
cause he has turned away his ear from hearing God's holy 
law, and has taken usury and increase, and greedily gained 
of his neighbor by extortion, and has forgotten the Lord God. 
Such English Quakers as these, together with a few fanatics, 
whose madness was produced by the despotism of priestcraft, 
and kingcraft, may lie exposed to the scoffing sneers and flim- 
sy sophistry of such enemies as Jeffrey, but that such insigni- 
ficant quibbling can have any effect upon the well established 
character of the religious Society of Friends, in the land of 
the illustrious Penn, a land where their pure republican prin- 
ciples are cherished and encouraged, by so mild and generous 
a government, which recognises no ecclesiastical tyranny, I 
cannot believe. I think I have had as good a chance of 
knowing the Society of Friends on this continent as any other 
man now living, having had a free and friendly intercourse 

20^ 



234 

with all classes for more than sixty jears, and I have ever con- 
sidered them the most happy, cheerful and reasonable part of 
the hnman family; carefully avoiding the had extremes of 
civilized life; the mnsic; dancing, and war spirit of the civil- 
ized savage, and the monkish gloom of the hireling anchorite 
and begging friar; they fill with propriety all those social and 
relative duties of life that conduce to the substantial happi- 
ness of mankind. But I am free to confess that wherever the 
Pevil has persuaded individuals to sell their Saviour for mo- 
ney, and their children have come under the influence of 
critical noblemen, and hireling priests, these emissaries of 
Satan have left the print of their dirty fingers on their fiiir 
character, 

I wonder that the noble Lord had not remembered when he 
imeeringly charges George Fox with insanity, in direct oppo- 
sition to the testimony of William Penn, who was Je#rey's 
superior in every thing but insignificant wit, that a more hon- 
orable and consistent nobleman brought the same charge against 
the apostle Paul^ and that the prototypes of both of them, the 
Sadducian Jews, cast the same reproach in the teeth of the 
Saviour of the world. But it is much more convenient for a 
light ^'feather''' of a wit to charge an hone&i, good man with 
insanity, than to withstand the power of eternal truth with 
which he is clothed. Therefore, I conclude that Jefirey knows 
but little about the blessed truth, as it is in Jesus, and that 
his sneering criticism and flimsy sophistry, are a full and am- 
ple proof of his ignorance. Were honest George Fox, as he 
gneeringly calls him, now living, he might be moved to write 
to him, as he did to Adam Sands, a wicked, false hearted man, 
who would have destroyed both truth and Friends : " Thon 
child of the Devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, in the 
light thou art comprehended, and in the light thou art con- 
demned.'' Or were the apostle Paul to meet with him, he 
might address him to his face as he did such a character 
formerly, *' Oh 1 full of all subtility, and all mischief, thou 
child of the Devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, how long 
ere thou wilt cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord ; 
thou hast no lot or part in the Christian religion, for I per- 
ceive thou art in the gall of bitterness and bond of iniquity." 
"With these few unpleasant remarks, I bid Francis Jeffrey fare- 
well; and in the language of dear old George Fox^ say, " if 



235 

ever thine eye seest repentance, thou wilt know me to he a 
lover of thy soul/' 

18th, Idthy and 20th. Devoted steadily to my husiness in 
the shop. 

21st. Our midweek meeting. A solemn^ silent opportunity, 
in which my poor soul was favored with the spirit of prayer, in 
which I was led to feel deeply for my sick neighbor, particular- 
ly a young mother, now very ill with consumption. There was 
something peculiarly solemn and tendering in my feelings for 
this dear young woman. She will leave an infant son, as my 
dear mother left me j and oh ! that her dying prayers may be 
like hers. I may here venture to express some of my feelings 
in relation to such cases as above referred to, of young people, 
particularly young women, dying with pulmonary consumption, 

I confess that it is paradoxical to me, how a young woman 
can have a fine healthy child, and that child improve and grow 
on its mother's milk, and that mother at the same time dying 
with consumption. But I think I can understand that the ap- 
plication of a blister to such a mother's breast or side would 
have a direct tendency to dry up her milk; and if there was on- 
ly a predisposition to the disease, give it all the advantage to 
finish its work with rapidity. In the present case, her father 
being a physician would do what he thought right, and it 
would be presumption in me to call his treatment in question. 
But I must take the liberty to write here that which I think, 
that scientific doctors, and scientific priests, often do more hurt 
than good to body and soul, and are a shameful imposition on 
the people; and that Thompsonian quacks and interloping 
preachers are no better. 

22d and 23c?. Yery unwell. Notwithstanding which, I 
worked all Sixth day, but laid by on Seventh. Last evening 
the young woman before alluded to died, after severe sufferings 
of body and mind. She was brought under a deep concern and 
exercise for her everlasting welfare, and sent for her priest to 
pray for her, and although I fear the prescriptions of the super- 
ficial doctor of divinity, like the doctor of medicine, did more 
hurt than good, I rejoiced in the belief that she was in the 
hands of the Heavenly Physician, where I had been commend- 
ing her on the bended knee of my soul, the day before she 
died. I say I rejoiced, and was comforted and encouraged in 
believing that my secret, heartfelt prayers were acceptable in 



236 

the Divine sight, and that her precious soul has found a mansion 
of undisturbed repose in the paradise of Grod. 

24:th. First day ] very unwell, hardly able to make fire and 
get the meeting house ready for the people, and then hardly 
able to attend ; but I did, and that is not the worst of it, I 
spoke, and I fear hurt the meeting, as well as myself. A week 
ago I made a record, that a poor little negatively innocent, or 
insignificantly wicked woman, I feared, preached away the life 
of the meeting. Had a record been written yesterday after- 
noon by some of the sufferers, it might have been like this : 
the meeting was very much hurt by a lifeless communication 
from a poor, ignorant negatively wicked old man in his dotage, 
who notwithstanding has too high a conceit of himself. Be 
that as it may, 1 felt myself I thought grow weaker and weak- 
er, and went to bed crying and praying, that I might -live one 
more day like a Chrjistian. 

25^/i. My prayer was heard, and I have spent one day in 
perfect peace without condemnation. Oh ! that my watchful 
dependance on my blessed Saviow may continue. 

26^7i. Another day in watchfulness and peace. 

21th, A pretty comfortable day, but the mirror of peace was 
once disturbed by passion. 

28^A, 29^7i, ^Otli. Peaceable and happy days. Notwithstand- 
ing my indisposition the two last, I worked a little in the shop. 

31s^. First day -, our meeting pretty large, though not very 
satisfactory to me, and I think it is most likely to some others, 
for I thought it my duty to deliver an unpleasant testimony. I 
was very feeble, having exhausted my little strength in getting 
the house ready for meeting ; so that having but little life and 
less strength, I fear I made but a lifeless, weak concern of it. 
Dear E. S., helped the meeting with a lively, strengthening 
communication. 

2d month 1st. Though still feeble, I could work a little in my 
shop. 

2d and M.^ Still better and thankful for the favor of being 
preserved ; diligent in business, and fervent in spirit. 

Uh. Our Monthly Meeting held at Newtown. The silent 
part of it was, I thought, a strengthening, encouraging oppor- 
tunity ; but a dull lecture from one of our self-righteous re- 
formers, appeared to me to obstruct the life, which however 
seemed to return to us in reading and answering the queries. I 



237 

was invited to the funeral of Samnel Buckman, a very aged 
man, and the last of the children, even by marriage, of that 
distinguished minister of the gospel, Joseph White, of the Falls. 
In the eveniog of this day of favor, was made doubly thank- 
ful for the safe return of my dear Isaac and Elizabeth, from a 
visit to their brother and sister in New York, with the report 
that all was well. 

t)th and Qth. Busy in my shop. On Seventh day afternoon, 
went to Isaac Parry's ; almost too much for me. Just before I 
started, was invited to the funeral of a Friend, by the name of 
Hose, in Solebury; was not able to go — Ah ! how soon there 
will be an invitation to my funeral. I likewise had a solemn 
word of exhortation from a youngish woman, who appeared to 
be partially deranged. She has undertaken to visit the families of 
our Monthly Meeting. Her father and she came together. They . 
both appeared to be angry at me, the first for preaching against 
usury, and the other for publishing some strictures against 
wrong-headed enthusiasts ; especially such as will not comply 
with the order and discipline of Society, and not rising in the 
time of prayer. I treated her with tenderness, though she was 
very hard : but perhaps it was all right. 

1th. First day ; attended Horsham Meeting ; it was very 
large in consequence of much notice being spread that a minis- 
ter from the western part of our State would be there. I think 
he spoke more than two hours, and I verily thought it an his- 
torical lecture, which, had the speaker been eloquent, might 
have been more interesting. I suffered in body and mind. 
I was disappointed, for I was in hopes I could have another 
sweet silent meeting at Horsham ; but I must be content to 
suffer, and oh ! that it may be for Christ's sake. 

%thj 9th, 10th. Industriously engaged at my business, but 
not without some failure in religious care and strict attention to 
the truth, which I quibblingly avoid-ed in a very trifling circum- 
stance, and felt condemnation. Was invited to the funeral of 
Susan Stapler, but did not go, being feeble in body and mind, 
and having no special commandment from the Divine Master. 

11th, Our midweek meeting. I could only get a little crumb 
of bread, the loaf was so tossed about by our preachers. One 
youngish woman, who is paying a kind of running visit to our 
families, spoke I think five or six times, and apppeared once in 
prayer, with four other communications from our own mem- 
bers. In the afternoon attended the wedding of J. L., and 



238- 

A. S. They were'married according to the new discipline ; not- 
withstanding which, it was to me an interesting opportunity. 
The young people spoke I think, the best I ever heard. 

12th and 13^/t. At work in my shop in peace and quietness. 

lAth. First day J a pretty large meeting, and to me the first 
part was precious, my soul being permitted to enter the house 
of silent prayer. The religious solemnity might have been bet- 
ter preserved, could I have remained silent j but our dear 
little E. S., I thought gave us a sweet little communication. 
In the afternoon there was a very large meeting, for W. M. j 
but being worn out by getting the house ready for meetings and 
so very feeble both in body and mind, I staid at home, and let 
all my family go. There was much complaining with some, of 
the man's long speaking; and I fear it was too much like some 
of my great preaching, as the people were pleased to call it ; 
too much the product of a cloven tongue as of fire, and if so in 
addition to a subtle, selfish desire to get subscribers to a book, 
the great preacher is in a sad condition ; and certainly needs 
to be possessed of Paul's concern — a godly care, lest while he 
is preaching to others, he himself becomes a castaway. But let 
me remember that it was only twenty-one years ago, that Ed- 
ward Hicks was preaching in the neighborhood of poor old Rich- 
ard Jordan, then on his death bed, and according to the state- 
ments of his friends, crying out '^Oh cannot there be some 
way to stop such unsound preachers V Now as I have taken 
the liberty to fear that that once highly favored minister, died in 
a bad state of mind ; would it not be profitable to extend that 
fear in a godly manner over myself ? and remember seriously 
the late exhortation of A. A. P., when visiting the families of 
our Monthly Meeting; '^Thou hast been joined to a company of 
angels and just men made perfect, and canst thou not dis- 
tinguish between the precious and the vile — art thou not still 
in danger of the sentence, go ye cursed into everlasting fire, 
prepared for the Devil and his angels ?" Although I feared at 
the time the dear young women was a fanatic, which has been 
confirmed by her subsequent conduct; yet I ought to remember 
that a dumb ass was once made use of to reprove the back-slid- 
ing of a once highly favored prophet. At the close of the af- 
ternoon meeting, one of our cunning, selfish, wise, political, 
prudent men of the world, and one of the excellent of the 
earth, mark, '^ of the earth, earthy," gave public notice that a 
sneeting would be held for the purpose of collecting alms for 



239 

the poor in Ireland. I am glad I was not present, for notwith- 
standing there had been a great deal of preaching, I should 
have been tempted to add an extract from Chrisfs sermon on 
the mount ; " Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, 
to be seen of them, otherwise you have no reward of your 
Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine 
alms do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do, 
in the synagogue, &c." I say I am glad I was not there, for I 
should have given offence, and perhaps done no good ; for it 
seems that even Friends are determined not to " exceed the 
righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees/^ 

I heard asserted in the same house where the notice had been 
given of the Irish meeting, — and that too, by a professed Qua- 
ker preacher of the gospel of Jesus Christ, — that a certain Ro- 
man Catholic priest in Ireland had done greater works than ever 
Jesus had done. I cannot help wondering what has be- 
come of that wonderful Catholic priest, and why he is not 
now exerting his wonderful power in keeping his countrymen 
from starving to death. We are told that the blessed Jesus 
had so much sympathy for hungry people, who had come some 
distance from their homes to attend one of his meetings, that he 
would not suffer his disciples to send them away without giv- 
ing them something to eat; and there happeningto be a lad in 
his company who had five barley loaves of bread, and two or 
three fishes, with these, he fed five thousand ^men, besides 
women and children, and had twelve baskets full of fragments 
left. This is recorded in the Holy Scriptures, and we old 
fashioned Christians believe every word of it. Now I can- 
not help asking, where is that wonderful Roman Catholic 
priest, the idol of certain professional Quakers ? Can it be pos- 
sible that he and his quondam friend, O'Connel, have been 
wheedling their poor weak countrymen out of their money to 
support them in the costume, equipage and luxury of fine 
gentlemen of the world, and now are not exerting their won- 
derful power to save their countrymen from starvation ! Why, 
if the reverend gentleman can do greater works than Jesus 
Christ, would it be unreasonable to suppose that he now might 
be feeding the poor starving Irish, at the rate of ten thousand 
men, besides women and children, with ten loaves of bread and 
five fishes, which would soon bring down the price of Ameri- 
can produce, and supercede the need of building more vessels 



240 

to carry it. But enough of this, for I have been reading a 
wonderful account in a Quaker paper of the sufferings in Ire- 
land, and it appears they forgot to tell us that the Catholic 
priest had sold his fine gentleman's dress, and was appropriating 
the money, together with what he had been getting for silver 
shrines for Diana, — no, no ; I mistake, pewter medals for tem- 
perance, — to purchase barley loves of bread for his poor starv- 
ing countrymen; and that O'Connel has sold his splendid 
coach and fine dapple greys, and is, in company with the Rev- 
erend Father, spending the money, with the thousands he has 
been getting from men, women and children, to buy bread 
for his starving countrymen. I say, perhaps, the Quaker pa- 
per has forgot to show us this pleasant side of the picture, 
and that it may come next week. But, alas ! the subject mat- 
ter before me is of too serious a character for irony or 
sarcasm, and therefore I had better recall some of my re- 
marks. 

But I am perplexed and worried with the acts and sayings 
of some of my friends, for I remember that in addition to the 
declaration of the old popular minister, that the Catholic priest 
had done greater works than Jesus Christ, — a young conceited 
bantling of a Quaker preacher, justified and united with 
Daniel O'Connel's abuse of George Washington about his 
slaves, whose every comfort and enjoyment was almost infinite- 
ly superior to those of his own degraded and wretched country- 
men. Indeed my soul is grieved and disgusted with the 
vain, empty boasts of proud impious England, reiterated by 
weak, superficial, apostate Americans, who, I fear, can be hired 
for almost any wages, to get up a begging mania to feed their 
wretched poor, while their priests may continue to be worshipped, 
and their lordly clergy, pampered nobility, and avaricious 
money-mongers, continue their blood-sucking system in exact- 
ing the utmost farthing to keep such abominable hypocrites 
wallowing in wealth and luxury. And should the working 
poor manfully attempt to redress their own grievances, the 
standing armies are commanded to murder them by thou- 
sands as rebels, turning the remnant, like paupers, over to 
America, to be fed and clothed by the abused slave-holders. 

Ah ! poor, worthy English operatives — I have loved you, 
I have sympathised with you ; I have prayed for you ever 



241 

since I heard from tlie mouth of that excellent female minister, 
E. G.J of New York, the following affecting circumstance 
which she was a sorrowful witness of. She said, in substance, 
that when she was in Ireland, near fifty years ago, after being 
at a. Friends' meeting in a certain town, she was invited to dine 
with a wealthy Friend. She had not been long in the house 
before she was sent for to visit a poor sick neighbor at the point 
of death. She was introduced into the most miserable hovel 
that she had ever seen — and mark, she was a citizen of New 
York, and in the practice of visiting the sick and poor, — where 
she beheld on a bed of straw, something like the skeleton of a 
man in the last stage of starvation, whose only attendant was 
a daughter about eighteen, whose pale, emaciated form, loudly 
proclaimed that she was following her father to the gates of 
death. Indeed, if I recollect rightly, the poor girl told my 
friend she had only eaten one potatoe in the last twenty-four 
hours. I need not tell any more, although it would be highly 
honorable to the Christian feelings of the dear Friend whom I 
love as a precious sister in Christ. Suffice it to say, there is 
abundant evidence that the sufferings of the poor Irish are not 
peculiar to 1846-7, though they now may be increased by the 
failure of some of their crops. But their exaggerated suffer- 
ings having now the advantage of a popular mania, almost pe- 
culiar to America^ it will for a while, make a great sound, if 
it can be fed with puffs innumerable in the newspapers, afford- 
ing an opportunity for doggerel poets to convert trumpetting 
hypocrites into angels, and newspaper scribblers and political 
office-hunters into saints; while the humble, consistent be- 
liever in Jesus Christ, in that faith that works by love, silently 
and quietly obeys his commandment, " But when thou dost 
thine alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand 
doeth; that thy alms may be in secret, and thy father 
which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly." With such 
humble, consistent, unpretending Christians, I would freely 
unite, and, poor as I am, throw in my two mites, not doubting 
but that an easy and quiet channel could be found to convey 
pur contributions to the real sufferers in Ireland. 

Wth, IQth, and 17t7i. Busy in my shop, trying to walk 
honestly towards those who are watching me, that they may 
not have wherewith to accuse me before the brethren. I 
am furnished from time to time with renewed evidence that it 

21 



242 

was right for me to publish my little book, especially in the 
manner I did, giving it away. I am satisfied it will promote 
the cause of truth as professed by religious Friends, and that 
encourages me, for I love religious Friends. 

18^/i. Oar Preparative meeting; I thought I got a little 
heavenly bread near the close, although I was so shackling in 
my mind that it was very little that I deserved. I had an 
opportunity I long wished for with M. S., a daughter of my 
dear deceased friend H. and J. J. I sorrowfully thought her 
self-righteousness and religious consequence was marked in the 
lines and configuration of her face ; and as she had anticipated 
the interview, she was prepared to tell me how much her fa- 
ther had done for me. But I had forgot that I ever stood in 
need of her father's assistance to put me forward, for I was in 
the station of a recommended minister, and passing for more 
than I was worth before I was acquainted with her father, who, I 
believe, was not then in the station of an elder, though a very kind 
common Friend. I tried to give her the advice and counsel 
that dear old Oliver Paxson gave me when young in the mi- 
nistry — to keep in the bosom of her friends at home, and not 
be under foreign influence, and then her friends would carry 
her in her infancy in their arms ; but if she suffered her- 
self to be under the influence of that cunning artful L. M.^ 
and a faction in Philadelphia, that she would be in disunity 
with her Monthly Meeting. I told her that I felt it my duty 
to deliver that message to ber, and that I had tried to save her 
brother from the same faction, and hoped I would now be 
better prepared to meet the glorified spirits of her dear father and 
mother in an awful eternity. But alas ! I fear in the case 
now before me, the saying of the blessed Saviour is applicable : 
'^ The whole need not the physician, but they that are sick. 
The Son of Mary came not to call the righteous but sinners to 
repentance." But perhaps I am influenced by prejudice and 
wrong feelings ; the Searcher of hearts only knows. 

19th and 20th. Spent in attention to m}^ business. 

21st. First day — a very stormy day, and a small, but com- 
fortable meeting. 

22d. A high day with some of our political companies in 
consequence of its being Washington's birth-day. Forty-seven 
years ago, I too participated in this festival, and marched in the 
ranks as a soldier. Alas ! where are my comrades and fellow- 



243 

soldiers ? Grone ! gone — ^^ Oh ! eternity — eternity, thou dread^ 
ful— awful thought/' One poor, unworthy wretch is left a 
monument of adorable mercy. 

23c?. Spent too much in idleness, with this language sound- 
ing in the ears of my soul : there is no such thing as an idle, 
shackling Christian, no more than a fighting Christian. 

24^A. Our select Quarterly Meeting held at Wrightstown ; 
a solid encouraging opportunity. 

25^A. The general Quarterly Meeting; a very snowy morn- 
ing. Notwithstanding the meeting was well attended, and 
conducted with more propriety than has been usual for several 
years. An encouraging time, though it was my lot to suffer 
in silence without one crumb of heavenly bread. 

2QtJi. Received this evening from a very wealthy, respecta- 
ble Orthodox Friend, an account of the life, death and burial 
of that distinguished Quaker preacher, Joseph John Grurney, 
of Norwich, in England, a man of princely fortune, and great 
scholastic education ; the possessor and inhabitant of Earldom 
Hall, the palace of the once great Lord Bacon. 

The pamphlet appears to have been written by a priest, or 
one of their satellites, probably a catch-penny newspaper scrib- 
bler; be that as it may, after reading said pamphlet, I went to 
bed sorrowful and discouraged, tempted to call in question 
what I had thought was to me most sacred and clear, my early 
impressions in favor of the precepts and example of Jesus 
Christ, who I verily thought was God manifest in the flesh, 
the great head of the Christian church, and pattern of ever- 
lasting righteousness. Alas ! I was ready to say for poor me, 
I have had wealth and scholastic education both offered to 
me, and refused them, and now what am I but a poor ignorant 
mortal, reduced to this sad conclusion, that the record of the 
New Testament was not the sayings of eternal truth, or this 
idolized Quaker preacher was no Christian or follower of 
Jesus Christ, no more than the Bishop of Durham or Dublin. 

21th. Arose this morning refreshed with sleep, but so light 
in my spirit as to think of Pope's pertinent remarks : 

'' 'Tis from high life high characters are drawn, 
A saint in crape is twice a saint in lawn." 

After attending to what I consider my daily duties, reading 
a portion of the New Testament, I was led into secret, silent, 
and I trust, fervent and effectual prayer, that I might not be 



244 

deceived. When it appeared to open with clearness that the 
sayings of our blessed Saviour are the testimonies of eternal, 
unchangeable truth, and the standard of everlasting righteous- 
ness, and his humble, lowly cross the only way to the crown. 
And if I understand him, he compared his true followers to a 
poor beggar, and nominal professors to a certain rich man, 
who was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptu- 
ously every day, and says there was a certain beggar named 
Lazarus, that was laid at his gate full of sores, desiring to be 
fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table — 
moreover, the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came 
to pass that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into 
Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died, and was buried, 
and in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and seeing 
Abraham afar ofi", and Lazarus in his bosom ; he cried, father 
Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may 
dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I 
am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, sod remem- 
ber that thou, in thy life time, received thy good things, and 
Lazarus his evil things, but now he is comforted and tho^ arfc 
tormented. Awful query ! which is the best likeness of J. J. 
Gr., the rich man or Lazarus. 

In confirmation of the above, we have the Divine Saviour 
saying most emphatically, ^^ Wo unto you that are rich, for 
you have received your consolation.^' "It is easier for a camel 
to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter 
into the kingdom of heaven." "For those things that are 
highly esteemed amongst men are an abomination in the sight 
of God." These solemn truths were fully understood and be- 
lieved by the primitive saints, and hence their powerfully cor- 
roborating testimonies. "Go to now, ye rich men, weep and 
howl for your miseries that shall come upon you ! Your riches 
are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten ; your gold 
and silver are cankered, and the rust of them shall be a wit- 
ness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire ; ye 
have lived in pleasure on earth, and been wanton." "For the 
love of money is the root of all evil, which while some have lusted 
after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves 
through with many sorrows." " For they that would be rich 
fall into temptation and a snare, and many foolish and hurtful 
lusts which drown men in perdition and destruction." I will 



245 

leave tlie reader to make his own comment, while I anticipate 
the reply of the trumpeters of the fame of J. J. G., that he 
gave liberally to Bible Societies, Missionary Societies, &c., and 
mightily assisted the hireling priests in bearing rule by their 
means, and their people in loving to have it so. Yes, he gave 
more than one year's income of his princely estate for this 
great purpose, besides feeding poor beggars with the crumbs that 
fell from his table, while the dogs may have had more com- 
passion for their sores. That is, the common people, such as 
J. J. G-., and his priests would call heretics and unbelievers, 
have more Christian sympathy for the suffering, starving, 
dying English subjects. Witness their passionate attacks on 
the abominable aristocracy and hierarchy of the British go-- 
vernment, the anti-christian source of all their sufferings, 
supported and held up by such men as J. J. Gt. 
^ The pamphlet further says, that the Grurney family has been 
rich and great, and consequently influential in Norwich, for 
near two hundred years, but that J. J. G-. was the greatest of 
all. ^ Keeping the standard of Christianity before us, the hum- 
ble, illiterate carpenter of Nazareth, who maintained his wi- 
dowed mother by humble industry, while neither of them had 
where_ to lay their heads as to earthly possessions ; and the 
poor, illiterate fisherman of G-alilee, and the industrious tent- 
maker of Tarsus, who ministered to his own necessities and 
those who were with him, by the labor of his own hands,— I 
say let us keep this standard before us, and compare an hum- 
ble trader in Philadelphia, a member of the Society of Friends, 
with the great idol of Norwich. His parents, about twenty- 
five years ago, were sold out of house and home, in conse- 
quence of being eaten up by usury. Falling short of satisfy- 
ing the demands against him, near five thousand dollars, the 
poor old Friends, almost broken hearted, went to Philadelphia, 
taking this son, about fourteen, with them, and with difficulty 
got a trader to take him. His humble industry and faithful- 
ness, soon gained the respect and confidence .of his master, 
who, after he was free, gave him a chance in business, where 
he succeeded in making money enough to pay all his father's 
debts, which was the first of his noble acts. Since which, he 
has given away thousands to poor, helpless, suffering mortals, 
but in such an humble, unobtrusive way, that his left hand 
did not know what his right hand did. Nor should I have 

21* 



246 

known as much as I do, had he not made me the distributor 
of some of his alms, expressing a wish that I would not men- 
tion his name, but I proved such a tell-tale, that he discharg- 
ed me from my stewardship, and employed others with less 
tongue. Being inquisitive, I found out that he was still dis- 
tributing to the necessities of the poor, agreeably to the com- 
mandment of his Divine Master; "When thou doesi. thine 
alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do 
in the synagogues and streets, that they may be seen of men ; 
verily, they have their reward/' Now if we add our Lord's 
views of the poor widow's two mites being of a more heaven- 
ly character than the abundant gifts of rich men, I think we 
shall be prepared to come to this conclusion, that C H., the 
the poor tradesman of Philadelphia, walking in the path of 
humble industry, paying his father's debts, and cherishing his 
poor widowed mother, is, according to the Christian standard;, 
far superior to J. J. G., of Norwich, in England, notwith- 
standing his yearly income of thousands of dollars. 

28^^. First day ; we had a good meeting, especially after our 
dear little E. S. preached the gospel ; my poor soul was nour- 
ished with a morsel of heavenly bread. 

Sd month, 1st, 2d and Sd. At work in my shop, trying to 
earn something, so that I may be able to meet all demands 
against me this Spring. Oh ! how thankful I ought to be for 
the blessing of being relieved from debt, which once almost 
broke my heart. Friends have certainly lost much of their 
dignified character for punctuality and justice in the payment 
of debts, and so far from paying their parents' debts, they will 
not pay their own, even when able, which has almost become 
fashionable. Therefore, C. H., before alluded to, has been 
guilty of a great departure from the too common custom and 
fashion of the day. 

4:th. Our Monthly Meeting at Makefield ; silent worship, 
and a comfortable encouraging meeting for business. 

^th and 6th. At work in my shop. 

7th, First day. Last night, near eleven o'clock, a messen- 
ger arrived from New York, with information that our dear 
daughter, Susan H. Carle, was sick; and to-day, our daughter 
Elizabeth went on. Our meeting was pretty well attended. 
Our sister, S. W., I thought, gave us a good little discourse, 
and I added a few words that might as well have been left, 



247 

for all that they were worth. I tried to have a good meeting, 
but for some reason ' the heavens seemed like brass, and the 
earth like iron. 

%tli. This day one year ago, our dear little grand-daughter, 
Phoebe Ann Carle, breathed her last, and my eyes are filled 
with tears whilst writing the record. Oh ! the love and ten- 
derness I feel for that precious child, while I rejoice at her 
safe arrival among those blessed angels that always behold the 
face of their Father. Received an invitation to the funeral of 
our aged aunt, Mary Hilborn. 

^th and \^tli. Industriously at work in my shop. It was 
so rainy I could not go to aunt Mary's funeral, but felt peace 
of mind : yea, sweet peace to flow as a river of life, for which 
my soul bows in thanksgiving and praise to Him that sitteth 
upon the throne and the Lamb. Read part of what is called 
a thanksgiving sermon, by the great Albert Barnes, a Presby- 
terian minister in Philadelphia, which I consider a great po- 
litical oration, embracing important political truths, but noth- 
ing of the Gospel of Jesu& Christ. Indeed I have reason to 
fear that the preacher is not a heart-felt believer, for if he 
was, or is, how could he live in pride and idleness on the in- 
dustry of others. Two thousand dollars a year for preaching. 
Alas ! my soul grieves at such palpable inconsistency. 

11^^. Our midweek meeting ; a laborious time till dear E. 
S. rolled away the stone from the well's mouth, when my 
soul could sing, I trust, like one formerly, who said, " Spring 
up, well, and I will sing unto thee.'' Indeed I had a 
precious meeting, in silent, solemn supplication. 

\2th and 13^^. Industriously engaged in my shop, with 
peace and plenty. 

l^th. First day; a precious, good meeting. I awoke this 
morning with this language impressed upon my mind, " Straight 
is the gate and narrow is the way that leads to life, and few 
there are that find it. Because, wide is the gate and broad is 
the way that leads to destruction, and many there are that go 
in thereat." And Christ says, "I am the way, the truth and 
the life; no man cometh to the Father but through me, and 
he that hath seen me hath seen my Father." When I took 
my seat in meeting this morning, this prayer sprung up in my 
heart, ^^ Oh ! for an establishment upon that rock against 
which the gates of hell shall never prevail." This led to what 



248 

I call a precious meeting, and could I have remained silent, it 
might have added to my peace of mind. But I felt it my duty 
to give a little transcript of my exercise to the meeting, which 
I fear, did not add much to the stature of truth. 

15^/4, 16th and 17th. Spent in my shop in close application 
to business. Received an invitation to the funeral of Abra- 
ham Buckman, near the Buck Tavern, but did not go, but 
staid and attended our own midweek meeting, which was large 
and one of the most precious, encouraging opportunities. J. S. 
appeared in solemn testimony, and his dear little wife in so- 
lemn supplication. Indeed it was a refreshing time to my poor 
soul, for I was silent, only speaking of the funeral of R. J., 
an aged Friend, say eighty-seven. This woman was left a wi- 
dow nearly thirty years ago, with an income of ten or twelve 
hundred dollars a year, from rents and usury. I did not at- 
tend her funeral, for I was afraid I would find a house of re- 
joicing and jealousy, instead of a house of mourning; and be- 
sides, there are always enough to attend upon the rich, and I 
was fearful if I went I might do more hurt than good. 

Idth. At work in my shop ', and on the 20th, went in com- 
pany with my brother-in-law, Isaac Parry, to see D. H., a 
man with a handsome wife, handsome children, handsome 
farm, handsome buildings, and a handsome fortune, but with a 
broken constitution, and melancholy mind, brooding, I fear, 
over the gloomy apprehensions of an after state. Oh ! the 
fatal mistake that poor, short-lived mortals continue to make. 

21st. First day; a rainy morning, and of course not a large 
meeting. Several of us ministers and elders had some public 
service that did not appear to me to amount to much, especi- 
ally the part that came from me. However, the silent part I 
thought was a good meeting to me. In the afternoon had an 
invitation to the funeral of Obadiah Willet, who lived nearly 
ninety-three years, but at last had to die. "Yes, he is gone — 
that is all — we know not where,^^ " or how the disembodied 
soul doth fare.^^ "We may know that he has left a pretty 
large estate, and two sets of high spirited children, and we may 
have reason to fear there will be too much bad feeling, if not 
too much bad action, with reference to law and limitation acts. 
I have been acquainted with Obadiah Willet nearly fifty 
years. He once had a lovely daughter, near my age, and 
some of my happiest juvenile hours were spent under his roof. 



249 

22(^. In my shop, where I was most agreeably visited Iby 
my dear Friend, Emmor Kimber. 

2Sd, Attended the funeral of Obadiah Willet. It was quite 
large, and I spoke to the company at some length, but I fear 
to little purpose, though I thought at the time, and especially 
when I had done speaking, that it was a solemn opportunity. 
I now think my communication a poor heterogeneous mixture 
of undigested matter, something like a half baked cake. I 
was certainly led somewhat singularly. I began to speak with 
a prospect of giving a paraphrase of the 14th chapter of 
John, and the 13th of first Corinthians, but struck off upon 
something- like the following remarks, touching the character 
of the deceased : " That he was able to say, after he had lived 
to the full age of a man, say seventy years, that he had never 
used tobacco in any way, nor had he ever been drunk.^' Now 
in estimating his character let us act upon a principle of jus- 
tice — if we charge him with his deficiencies and vices, let us 
give him credit for his perfections and virtues. If we charge 
him with not being religious, that is, not going to meeting, nor 
paying his money to support a hireling ministry, Bible Socie- 
ties, Missionary Societies, &c. &c., let us give him credit for 
setting a better example, of a dignified, consistent, rational 
being, by not using tobacco, or not getting drunk for seventy 
years, than ninety-nine out of a hundred hireling priests, or 
their satellites, or even numbers of the religious Society of 
Friends. This view, taken in connection with his other traits 
of character, I am induced to believe would present a balance 
in favor of my deceased kinsman, Obadiah Willet. We are 
told that the chief end of man, is to glorify God on earth, 
and enjoy him in heaven for ever, and the primitive Chris- 
tians testified that God ought to be glorified even in eating and 
drinking. Now please to consider, whether God is glorified by 
a high professor of Christianity, when, perverting the whole 
order of creation, he takes into his mouth a nasty weed, whose 
poisonous, nauseous qualities are such that a hog, one of the 
filthiest of animals, will not touch it; or whether a lovely 
woman, who ought to stand next to the angels in heaven, 
glorifies him when she defiles her lips with abominable 
snuff; or when, indulging an irritable temper, she uses 
harsh language, unbecoming her position, and calculated 
to sully or blot out every agreeable quality; I say, how 
does such a woman glorify God, more than the poor man who 



250 

gets drunk on whiskey, abuses his wife, and swears. Indeed, 
I have considered them so nearly equal in perverting the di- 
vine harmony of creation, that they have no reason to quarrel 
who should be the greatest, or rather the worst. 

24fh. Closely employed in my shop. 

2bth. Our midweek meeting; a comfortable encouraging 
opportunity. 

26th and 27th. Yery busy trying to get some work done by 
the terrible, " first of April,'' a day of trouble and rebuke to 
poor me for many years. Oh ! how thankful I ought to feel 
for the fulfilment, so far, of dear old William Blakey's pro- 
phecy when encouraging my wife and self thirty .years ago, 
" that our last days should be our best days.'' 

2Sth. First-day. I had a precious silent meeting after hard 
work to get at the life, though the solemnity was disturbed by 
a cold lifeless lecture on the Sabbath, but closed well by being 
favored with a little new wine of the kingdom handed to us by 
our dear little friend, E. S. 

29th, SOth and 31.s^. Spent in finishing some work and try- 
ing to persuade a young man who possesses talents to be 
gTcatly good, to reform from the errors of his way, he having 
lately given some grounds for hope by an act of justice towards 
the woman he has married, A man may be a drunkard, a 
swearer, and indeed, a very immoral man ; still there is hope 
for him ; but if he uses a woman badly, gaining her afiections 
and then leaving her in a helpless state, the victim of despair, 
reproach and shame, such a man, being a great sinner, must be 
a great penitent or be greatly tormented. 

4:th month Is^. Our midweek meeting, or rather Preparative 
Meeting, unusually small, but comfortable and edifying. Went 
in the afternoon with my wife to Warminster, to see our 
sister E. and her daughter, and our dear S. P., husband, 
parents, &c. 

2d. Returned home and received an invitation to the funeral 
of my dear afilicted friend, Sarah Hulme, of Mount Holly, 
N. J. This day I have had another evidence of my constitu- 
tional weakness — too easily provoked — Oh ! when shall I over- 
come this enemy of my soul. 

^d. Another polite invitation to the funeral above alluded 
to; in a serious difficulty about going; feebleness of health 
and activity of mind are discouragements. The first, to my 



251 



bodily health; the second, a fear I shall preach in my own will 
and scatter, instead of gathering to Christ. Finally settled 
not to go to the funeral of dear Sarah Hulme. 

Ath, This day I am sixty-seven years of age, and seriously 
think of closing my writing concern, but it being First-day I 
will try to weigh the concern in the balance of the sanctuary, and 
view it in the light of the gospel, if I can be favored with a 
good silent meeting, A good meeting, but not as much light 
as I could have wished, but if I am not mistaken, the 
balance of impression is in favor of sealing up such visions and 
prophecies as may hereafter be given, and write them not, only 
publishing them by preaching the gospel with the Holy Ghost 
sent down from heaven, the only way the gospel was ever 
preached. I had better for ever be silent than to speak in my 
own will and my own strength, for it is an unchangeable, eternal 
truth, that ^^He that gathereth not with me — Christ — scatter- 
eth." The Society of Friends are scattered and divided, and I fear 
will too soon be subdivided. The two extremes which have 
produced this, appear to me now to be carrying out their effect. 
The Orthodox Friends are in two parties called Grurneyites and 
Wilburites. The Gurneyites are the extreme Orthodox, and 
are preparing to amalgamate with the Episcopalians, as the 
Episcopalians are preparing to amalgamate with the Eoman 
Catholics. Friends, or what are called Hicksite Friends, are 
m two parties, which I shall call, for the purpose of explaining 
my views, Hicksites and Foxites. The Hicksites appear to 
me fully prepared to amalgamate with the Unitarians, as the 
Unitarians are prepared to unite with the Deists, and finally 
join the confederacy or conspiracy to destroy the religion of 
Jesus in its blessed simplicity, and introduce the reign of rea- 
son instead of revelation. The Foxites, or rather the Society 
of Friends that unite, or are in union with Fox, Penn, and 
Barclay, with which I include myself, are in a society capacity 
m a suffering state, and which will be most likely to increase. 
The friendly Orthodox are in a similar state and condition. 
Now if the extreme Orthodox or Gurneyites would quietly go 
to the Episcopalians where they properly belong, and our ultra 
reformers go to the Unitarians, their right place, and religious 
Friends and religious Orthodox could hold a conference, and 
let that '^charity that suffereth long and is kind,'' sit as 
moderator, I think there would be but little to prevent their 



252 

uniting again. The greatest difficulty will be the deep rooted 
prejudice against that excellent Friend, Elias Hicks. Indeed 
the Orthodox spirit has most improperly and unjustly dubbed 
as Hicksites the great body of Friends constituting the Yearly 
Meeting of Philadelphia, when neither Elias Hicks nor his 
doctrine had any thing to do with our Quaker revolution in 
Pennsylvania, which originated in a contest between the repub- 
licanism of William Penn, planted in America and watered 
and cherished by the free institutions of our country, and the 
aristocracy of the Yearly Meeting of London, under the influ- 
ence of the British hierarchy. This being the fact, and that 
Elias Hicks never united with John Comly's excellent Chris- 
tian plan of re-organizing our Yearly Meeting, through its 
constituent branches, nor came into it, till after it was effected, 
and the Genius of Pennsylvania had offered its protection to 
Friends; this of itself, certainly shows the inconsistency of 
calling us Hicksites. If we must have a nick-name there 
would be much more propriety in calling us Comlyites. But 
be that as it may, one thing is pretty certain with me, that dear 
old Elias in his day saw but one of the sad extremes which 
are now distracting the whole Society of Friends. He only 
saw, as he thought, the Society going, *' to use the figure of a 
distinguished minister, full gallop towards Rome,^' or, in other 
words, towards Trinitarianism } and fearing they would finally 
split on that fatal rock of anti-Christ, Elias exerted himself with 
great zeal and ability ; and as great men are not always wise, 
nor wise men always prudent, he might sometimes have run so 
near the opposite rock of Unitarianism as to be a little 
scratched and injured by some of its cold barren points. But 
even that partial evil, if it may be called an evil, proved the 
truth of the Scripture testimony, that all things work together 
for good to them that love God, for it convinced him that the 
Unitarian rock was likely to be the most dangerous to his pro- 
fessing Friends. Hence his declaration a short time before he 
died, 'Hhat he was now more afraid of his professing friends, 
than he was of his professing enemies ;'' and had the dear old 
man lived until this time, he would more than have realized 
his fearful apprehensions, in beholding his professing friends, 
to use the figure by way of parody, so afraid of galloping to 
Home that they were on something like the long trot to Con- 
stantinople, with not as much reverence for Jesus Christ as 



258 

the Turks, and where he might have heard one of their most 
distinguished speakers declare from a Quaker gallery, as a 
gospel truth, that a Catholic priest in Ireland had done greater 
works than ever Jesus Christ had done ; and that peculiar 
doctrine or position of the primitive Quakers, that Christ had 
come as a quickening spirit to teach his people himself, was 
all a delusion ; and that Friends now going to meeting and sit- 
ting in silence, to wait upon him as a teacher that will lead 
into all truth, was an abomination in the Divine sight; and all 
those Scripture testimonies that Friends being in favor of such 
a practice, are absurdities, as well as many other parts of the 
New Testament. Add to this, Hannah Barnard's skeptical 
speculation about the Scriptures revived, (by a nursling of a 
boarding school) with all the flimsy sophistry of a quibbling 
age, — I say had dear old Elias Hicks lived to see and hear all 
this, and had he been in the same state of mind that he was 
when seventy years of age^ he would have looked upon such 
professing Friends as his Divine Master did upon the hypo- 
critical priests, ^^with anger, being grieved for the hardness of 
their hearts," 

I am aware that these sorrowful truths may give offence 
and some Orthodox may reply that what is acknowledged above 
is nothing more than the carrying out of the doctrine preached 
by Elias Hicks. To which I answer ; not as much so as the 
opposite extreme, now existing among Orthodox Friends, which 
is driving their members by hundreds to the priests, is 'the ef- 
fect of the preaching, writing, and example, of Joseph John 
Ourney and Elisha Bates ; and if Orthodox Friends would be 
honest and candid enough to make a fair comparison between 
their redoubtable champions, Joseph John and Elisha, and 
that venerable and consistent Quaker, Elias Hicks, I think 
they would be ashamed of themselves, and be willing to put up 
their sword into its sheath. I could say much about the in- 
consistency of the wealthy and learned Joseph John Grurney 
in continuing his connection with the Society of Friends, and 
at the same time going hand and glove with hireling priests 
giving them thousands of pounds to support their Bfble Soci- 
eties, Missionary Societies, &c., the means by which they bear 
rule. I could say much about the learned and mutable Elisha 
Bates' extreme orthodoxy, but final consistency, in leaving 
Friends and joining the Episcopal Methodists. But enough 

22 ^ ' 



254 

if not too much, has already been said, and my object is to try 
to restore peace among religious Friends, and get them together 
again, for they will stand in need of all the sympathy and 
help that they can give each other ; and I should be willing to 
retire with such religious Friends, from all these noisy, turbu- 
lent parties, now in Society, and let them hare our big meeting 
houses, and money at usury, boarding schools, worldly honors, 
&c. &c. All we would ask would be our old-fashioned Quaker- 
ism, whose gratitude and love to God could wet the floor of a 
log cabin with its tears, and whose excellent old-fashioned dis- 
cipline was particularly concerned that poor Friend's necessi- 
ties should be duly inspected, and they relieved, and assisted 
in such business as they were capable of. With such Friends 
I should be more than willing to renew covenant with a cove- 
nant keeping God, and with each other, in the good, old-fash- 
ioned resolution, that, let others do as they would, we would 
love the Lord Jesus Christ, and try to promote his blessed 
cause on earth, in accordance with the views of Fox, Penn, and 
Barclay. My precious mother died in this faith, and left her 
infant a legacy of unutterable love — the fervent, effectual 
prayer of her righteous soul — that the Shepherd of Israel, the 
Lord Jesus Christ, would bless and preserve her son ; and it 
seemed so ordered, in infinite goodness and mercy, that my lot 
was cast under the superintending care of a pious Quaker 
woman^ who, like Cowper's cottager, knew, 
" And only knevv' her Bible to be true, 

A truth some modern schoolmen never knew, 
And led her infant charge, with sparkling eyes, 
To seek a heavenly treasure in the skies.'' 

This was the instrument that was made use of to assist in 
kindling the first devotional fire on the altar of my heart ; a 
fire that was partially covered, but never put out — a fire that 
was kindled with renewed fervency, under a heavenly visita- 
tion, about the twenty-first year of my age, and now furnished 
with additional fuel, from the grateful remembrance of the 
unmerited mercy and goodness of my Heavenly Father, in 
keeping me and feeding me, to the commencement of my sixty- 
eighth year. I can set up my Ebenezer, and say, hitherto the 
Lord has been with me, he has blessed me with every thing in 
this world that I could ask for. It is true, my comfortable 
home consists of a house which some might think of but mean 



255 

appearance, and a lot of twelve acres of land, the produce of 
which, with mj working industriously with my own hands at 
my trifling trade, I can pay cash for every thing I buy, and 
owe no man; and, taking the apostle's advice, can ^^ Study to 
be quiet, and do my own business, and work with my own 
hands, that I may walk orderly towards them that are without, 
and that I may lack nothing,'^ How much better is such a 
Christian independence, than living idly, on an income drawn 
from the sweat of the brow of a poor Christian brother, by 
usury, or even the rent of a farm. I can now appeal to the 
elders of Bucks Quarterly Meeting, as Paul did to the elders 
of the Grecian Church, ^'I hav€ coveted no man's silver, or 
gold, or apparel. Yea, ye yourselves know that these hands 
have ministered to my necessities, and them that are with me.'' 

I am aware I stand charged by the priests and their satel- 
lites, with receiving pay for preaching, and presents and favors 
from Friends, with an extraordinary price for my work ; which 
charges I now solemnly declare to be false. I admit that I 
receive ten dollars a year of Newtown Preparative JMeeting, 
for taking care of the meeting house, making fires, sweeping, 
&c., out of which I pay from a dollar to two dollars towards 
the contingent expenses. And as to favors and presents, with 
the exception of the Leedom family, descendants of my adopted 
mother, I receive no presents or favors. Indeed, a case has 
just occurred that will show what kind of favors I receive from 
Friends. 

When I bought the last addition to my little lot, I bor- 
rowed of a member of a neighboring Monthly Meeting, one 
hundred and fifty dollars; aad after paying him more than one 
hundred dollars usury, or interest, when i sent him a day or 
two since, his one hundred and fifty dollars, he refused to give 
up the obligation until I paid him about twenty-seven dollars, 
compound interest. This man has no children, and is putting 
out every year near a thousand dollars at usury : therefore let 
the priests and their satellites put their hands upon their 
mouths, and be silent, for the reverse is the fact, as respects 
us poor Quaker ministers, since our Quaker revolution. Ex- 
cepting a few cases of popular bubbles, we are the butt, the 
Jest, and the laughing stock, of the fourth proof dandy, who 
lias learned at school how to write a receipt, cut up a dog, and 
Bjcgue against the immortality of the soul; and by the assistance 



256 

of the redoubtable Thomas Paine, to consider the Holy Scrip- 
tures a mere jest book. Yes, I know three poor Quaker min- 
isters, within ten miles, that have been permitted to sink — one 
of them, I fear, downright. 

" O'er him and o'er his name, 

The billows of affliction e'er will close; 

The morrow knows not he was ever born." 

This poor dear brother was a member of one of the richest 
Monthly Meetings, whose active members have latterly ap- 
peared to me pre-eminent for usury, ranterism, and self- 
righteousness. Another has a short memorial of mercy from 
his friends, connected with the records of his Preparative 
Meeting, which, like the flag floating when the bark is en- 
gulphed, may 

" A moment float, and then be seen no more." 

A third, although not a recommended minister, but acknow- 
ledged by his neighbors to be a most excellent young Friend^ 
was sold out by the Sheriff for a debt of two hundred dollars, 
and then his Monthly Meeting, with funds at usury, tried to 
disown him 3 while in the same and an adjoining neighborhood, 
six hundred or a thousand dollars could be raised for the bene- 
fit of a colored man, a native of Maryland. I do not make 
these remarks from any imkind feeling I entertain against 
these Friends, on account of any treatment I have received ; 
far from it. But I make a statement of facts, in defence of 
the cause of truth, as professed by Friends, to meet the charges- 
of a set of lazy, proud hirelings, who can live idly on the in- 
dustry of their weak, superstitious satellites, and to relieve the 
wear and tear of their guilty consciences, are throwing out 
their unjust insinuations against poor Quaker ministers, who 
receive no salary nor favors, more than other members of Soci- 
ety, but have to exert every energy of body and mind, to meet 
the contingent expenses of a too often too extravagant family ; 
and should they fail to meet all their engagements, and pay 
their simple and compound interest, are sufi'ered to sink, if not 
downright, in a crippled state for life; while the Monthly 
Meeting to which one of them belongs, has ten thousand dol- 
lars at interest or usury. But the present leaders of the meet- 
ing, and managers of the funds, appear to have no Christ-like 
mercy or forgiveness, and hence no sorrowful look is cast upoa 
poor Peter, while perplexed and worried by a set of inq[uisi- 



S5T 

tive, supercilions creditors j on tlae contrary, kis sins must be 
confessed to the Monthly Meeting, in a degrading acknowledg- 
ment. Oh ! that there could have been honest Christianity 
enough in that Monthly Meeting, to have recorded at the 
same time its own acknowledgement, that a little timely Chris- 
tian care, with a very small part of the compound usury that 
that Monthly Meeting had been exacting from honest industryj 
would have saved this poor Friend. Oh ! how unlike the babe 
of Bethlehem — oh ! how unlike the Lamb that groaned on 
Calvary— oh ! how unlike that darling attribute of mercy, that 
suffering Saviour, who turned and looked upon Peter, when 
overwhelmed with temptation, confusion, and darkness, he was 
equivocating, lying, and swearing — not a look of anger, not a 
look of reproach, but a look of sorrow and sympathy for poor, 
sinful, fallen man- a look of light and life, that made poor 
Peter's sins appear exceeding sinful, and he wept bitterly tears 
of repentance not to be repented of. It was all that was deemed 
needful ; he. was never charged with being a liar and a swearer. 
He was only cited three times in the following language : 
^' Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?" when Peter could 
sorrowfully answer, "Lord, thou knowest all things, thou 
knowest that I love thee.''' 

Some of the foregoing remarks may be thought rather too 
invidious, but, dear reader, they are not made on my own ac- 
count, or in consequence of the dealings of Friends towards 
me ; far from it : for however delinquent I may have been, 
the Shepherd of Israel, the Lord Jesus Christ, has raised me 
up Friends, who have kept me above the disciplinarian treat- 
ment of such cold, unfeeling Monthly Meetings. One whose 
name already stands recorded in the narrative of my life, I 
again refer to in this closing paragraph. Bear S. H. of New 
York, an honor to the commercial character of that great city, 
not only stood by me as my friend while liviuii:, but I believe 
remembered me in death, and requested his children to do as 
he had done. Hence, his beloved son H., a wealthy and re- 
spectable nierchant of the same city, who I hope is walking in 
the footsteps of his honored father, called on me, generously 
offering to assist in any thing I needed. I told him I needed 
nothing that this world could give me, and while I was able 
with these hands to minister to my own necessities, and them 

*22 



258 

that were with me, I felt conscientiously hound to do it^ and 
covet no man's silver, or gold, or apparel. 

And here I will give my reasons for not suhmitting my 
writings to the Meeting for Sufferings, or Representative Com- 
mittee. Because they would not have united with their plain^ 
simple form, neither would they have published them so that 
they could be given away. Nevertheless, had all the members 
been like my very dear friends John Comly, Isaac Parry, &c., 
&c., I should not have been afraid that my writings would 
have lost any thing of their Christian character by their re- 
visal. But as too many members of that committee would be 
a much more consistent ornament to a seat in Congress, than a 
Quaker gallery, and consequently much better qualified to 
serve on a committee of " ways and means,'^ than to judge of 
Christian experience, I am not at liberty to submit to that 
order of Society, believing I have a right, as a member of the 
Society, to have them published on my own responsibility, and 
clear Friends from any accountability whatever, for any errors 
that may be in them. 

And now, before I lay down my pen, I think it right to de- 
clare again an increasing love and unity with faithful, religious 
Friends, wherever they are to be found : mark what I say^ 
faithful, religious Friends ; such as love the Lord Jesus Christ, 
and believe, with Fox, Penn, and Barclay, that He has come 
without sin unto salvation, as a quickening spirit, to teach and 
save his people himself, agreeable to his own heavenly promise 
and the faith of his primitive disciples, " I will not leave you 
comfortless, I will come nnto you,^^ in the character of the 
spirit of truth that shall lead into all truth, which the world 
cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him ; 
^' But ye know him, for he dwelleth with you and shall be in 
you.'' Therefore, ^^you need not that any man teach you,'' 
save that Holy anointing '^ which is Christ within, the hope 
of glory/' which teacheth and leadetli into all truth. 

JSFewtown, 1th mo.lotJi, 1849. 
I feel as if I ought to try to write a few lines more before I 
die, which some of the Doctors think will be this summer. 
Indeed I feel scarcely able to walk up and down stairs, such is 
the weakness of my body, though I humbly hope, I am favored 
with sound mind and memory, and want simply to say, in as 
few words as possible, something by way of encouragement 



269 

to such precious visited minds as may come after me and 
read this. 

Dear, precious children, believe me, an establishment in the 
ever blessed truth as it is in Jesus, is infinitely — infinitely su- 
perior to every thing of this world. Press after it, lay fast 
hold of it, in this your day of visitation, remembering that by 
^' G-race ye are saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves, 
it is the gift of Grod.'^ Put no confidence in your own strength, 
your own resolutions or resolves, for should you thus attain to 
a religious standing among men, it may terminate in self- 
righteousness, or at best, that of the elder brother, which was 
not the Christian state. 

I now feel that it was a great blessing when I came to 
see my lost state, about the 21st year of my age, that I lost all 
confidence in myself, and felt the need of a Saviour to save 
my sinful soul, for I knew without such a Saviour I must fall ; 
and this fear of falling, which has been the companion of my 
mind for nearly fifty years, I now see has been an additional 
blessing to me, for it led to care and concern, and this concern, 
in the day of my espousal, when I first began to attend Friends' 
meetings, led to fervent prayer, which was efi"ectual, and 
hence my preservation as a monument of the mercy and good- 
ness of Grod. I say monument of mercy, for I certainly have 
no merit, and am really astonished that such a poor creature 
as I have always been, should have ever attained to such a 
standing in Society, and had so many good friends. 

I now have a lively recollection that in those days of tempta- 
tion and tremendous tossings, when I sometimes thought I 
was lost for ever, when favored with the spirit of prayer, how I 
begged for preservation. I felt as if I ought to suffer the due 
reward of my evil deeds, but like the penitent suff"erer on the 
right hand of Jesus, I often exclaimed, " Lord, remember me 
when thou comest into thy kingdom. '^ This prayer has been 
graciously answered, and I have been snatched as a brand 
from the burning, and preserved as a monument of unmerited 
mercy and goodness, which has put it into my heart, especially 
these last years of my life, to pray daily for an increase oi faith 
in Christ and an increase of love for him ;'and I now think I feel 
an incontestible evidence that this prayer has been granted, 
and my poor soul has become established in the eternal Truth, 
as it is in Jesus, with that faith that works by love ', for oh ! 
the love I feel for my dear Kedeemer is inexpressible; and the 



260 

increase of love I feel for all his dear children the world over, 
let iheir name and profession be what it may. This faith in 
Christ and love for him, furnishes the precious hope that I 
shall be saved, and this hope is like an anchor that keeps me 
quiet, steady and Jinn under the canopy of heavenly peace j 
^Aa^ legacy that he hath bequeathed to all true believers, *'My 
peace 1 leave with you, my peace I give unto you ; not as the 
world giveth, give I unto you; let not your hearts be troubled, 
neither let them be afraid/' I therefore humbly hope that 
death to me will have no terrors, nor will the grave have any 
victory, but through that faith that works by love, my soul will 
triumph over death, hell and the grave. 

I write this seriously, and awfully, and thoughtfully, being 
under no excitement from preparations of opium, or any other 
medicine. But in a short time I fear I shall not be able to say 
so, for unless I can get relief some other way, I shall have to 
have recourse to some kind of an anodyne ; and in that case, 
whatever expressions I may use, will be more or less incohe- 
rent, in proportion to the irritability of the nervous system, the 
exquisite connection of soul and body. 

In the covenant of grace, all are included under sin, that 
the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of Grod should 
abound in Heaven with the angelic host over repentant sinners. 
Hence Paul felt himself, in the presence of Infinite purity, the 
chief of sinners, saying, oh! wretched man that I am who shall 
deliver me from the body of this death ; but joyfully exclaims, 
I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. This faithful 
saying, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, 
Paul considered worthy of all acceptation, and although he 
looked upon himself as the chief of sinners he could testify 
that the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus, had made him 
free from the law of sin and death, and that he had fought a good 
fight, he had finished his course, he had kept the faith; hence- 
forth there was laid up for him a crown of righteousness, which 
the Lord, the righteous Judge, would give him at that day, 
and, (0 encouraging consideration) not to him only, but to 
all that love his af)pearing. With these views and experience of 
the beloved Paul, I most cordially unite, according to my little ex- 
perience ; and with much more propriety than Paul can sincere- 
ly say, that in the presence of infinite purity I view myelf not 
only the chief of sinners, but a wretched sinner, a fool, a worm 
of the dust, a nothing ; but oh ! that compassionate darling at- 



261 

tribute of mercy, wliich seeks to save that wliicla is lost, that 
saw me when a great way off, and came to meet me, and I 
humbly hope is preparing my poor soul to add to the joy in 
Heaven, over one sinner that repenteth. 

But I am writing too much and saying too little, and had 
better mind my own business, which if I am not mistaken is 
to bear a simple, child-like testimony to this mercy and good- 
ness of my blessed Saviour' ; which will subject me to be pitied 
by the wise and prudent of this world, as a fool, or ridiculed 
as an enthusiast ; my doctrine considered madness, and my end 
without honor. Yet I would not part with this child-like be- 
lief in Jesus Christ, for ten thousand times ten thousand 
worlds, and I am encouraged in this faith by his precious tes- 
timony, where he says, ^' I thank thee, Father, Lord of hea- 
ven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and 
prudentj and revealed them unto babes; even so Father, for so 
it seemed good in thy sight." Oh that I may be a babe in 
Christ, and permitted to cry Abba, Father ! Oh that I may 
have that precious life that is hid with Christ in God, as a pass- 
port from this world to the Heaven of Heavens. 



A LITTLE PRESENT 

FOR 

FRIENDS 

AND 

FRIENDLY PEOPLE: 

IN THE FORM OF 

A MISCELLANEOUS DISCOURSE. 

BY A 

POOR ILLITERATE MECHANIC. 



PREFACE: 

The heads only of the following Discourse were delivered at 
Goose Creek meeting house, Loudon county, Virginia, on the 22d 
of the 2nd month, 1837, and taken down in writing by a person 
then present, who subsequently placed the manuscript in the 
hands of the speaker, with a request from his hearers that he 
would publish it. And notwithstanding he had hitherto rejected 
all such applications, especially when he suspected that pedling 
and speculation were the principal objects of the Stenographer, — 
having a righteous testimony to bear against making a mercenary 
traffic of gospel truths, — yet, the disinterestedness and respecta- 
bility of the present applicants induced him again to take the 
subject into serious consideration, when he apprehended he felt 
more than a freedom to comply with the request by writing out 
the several heads, — of course there is now more than was then 
delivered, — which is offered to the public without money and with- 
out price. 



28 



DISCOURSE.* 

(See Math. chap. xvi. 24; and Isaiah, xi. 6, 7.) 

Since I took my seat in this meeting, my mind has been 
arrested by the unchangeable terms of salvation laid down by 
the DMne Saviour : " If any man will come after me, let him 
deny liimself, take up his daily cross, and follow me ]'" and as 
the subject has spread before the view of my mind, it has 
opened into a wide field of instruction, and whether I shall 
be able to lay it fully before this large and interesting assem- 
bly, depends much upon Divine assistance, and the Christian 
sympathy and feeling of others. As I feel very poor and 
weak, and as the fervent and effectual prayer of the righteous 
availeth much, I feelingly desire the prayers of all that can 
feel for and with me, to enable me to fulfil the important trust 
of a gospel minister, to the honor of my Creator, the edifica- 
tion of my fellow pilgrims, and the peace of my own mind. 
It was in a view similar to this great testimony of Christ that 
the divinely inspired prophet Isaiah held forth this language 
when alluding to the fulness; of the glorious gospel dispensa- 
tion : ^^The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leo- 
pard shall lie down with the kid ;^^ ^' The cow and the bear 
shall feed ; their young shall lie down together ; and the lion 
shall eat straw like the ox.'' Now the prophet was not only 
a righteous man, but a true philosopher, and understood the 
astonishing variety embraced in the wonderful creature called 
man, viewing him, no^doubt, as he ought to be viewed, as the 

" Connection exquisite of distant worlds ! 

Distinguish'd link in being's endless chain ! 

Midway from nothing to the Deity." 

^^ In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth — 
and he said, let there be light, and there was light.'' ^'In the 
beginning was the Wordy and the Word was with God, and 
the Word was God : all things were made by him, and with- 

*The MS. of the following Discourse was put into the hands of the 
printer by a respectable merchant, with a request that it might be pub- 
lished — together with another edition of ** A Word of Exhortation.''' . 



268 

out him was nothing made that was made : In him was lifej 
and the life was the light of men/^ In these last days God 
hath spoken by his Son (Jesus Christ), whom he hath ap- 
pointed heir of all things, and by whom he made the worlds. 
Thus the testimony of the Holy Scriptures, which contain the 
most important history, the purest morality, and the finest 
strains of poetry and eloquence, that can be found in any 
book, in whatever age or language it may have been composed, 
tells us that this wonderful phenomenon of the material uni- 
verse was created by the eternal Word in six dayS; aiM pro- 
nounced by Infinite Wisdom to be good. 

" Look nature through, 'tis neat gradation all j 
By what minute degrees her scale ascends ! 
Each middle nature joined at each extreme, 
To that above it joined, to that beneath! 
Parts into parts, reciprocally shot, 
Abhor divorce : what love of union reigns : 
Hpre dormant matter waits a call to life : 
Half lifcj half death, joined there;" — 

As in the egg and some of the lower orders of animal exist- 
ence, particularly a species of shellfish, called the polypus — 

''here life and sense; 



There sense from reason steals a glimmering ray ;" — 

As in the fox, and the dog and some other animals subservient 
to man, whose actions, at times, evidently appear to partake of 
something like reason; but 

" Reason shines out in man. O how preserved 

The chain imbroken, upward to the realms 

Of incorporeal life ; those realms of bliss, 

Where death has no dominion. Grant an earthly part 

And an etherial; grant the soul of man 

Eternal ; or in man the series ends." 

The animal body of man was the finishing work of all ani- 
mated nature, and consequently the highest order of terrestrial 
creation ; being compounded of the four principal elements — 
Earth, Air, Water and Fire. As either of these predominat- 
ed in the animal economy, it gave rise to the constitutional 
character or complexion, called by the physician and philoso- 
pher — melancholy, sanguine, phlegmatic and choleric. Hence 



269 

arises that astonisliing variety in the appearances and actions 
of men and women, as creatures of this world. As the ani- 
mal man possessed the nature and propensities of all other an- 
imals, being superior to them all, — so that strong law of ani- 
mated nature, called self or self-will, was commensurate with 
or equal to his standing in the scale of beings ; that is, his 
self-will was as much stronger as he was superior to other an- 
imals; being the spirit of the animal so essentially necessary 
to its perfection, and in man was to be governed by his supe- 
rior rational, immortal soul, which was created in the image of 
God, who said — Let us create man in our own image : Grod 
being an all-powerful, incomprehensible, eternal mind or spi- 
rit, that pervades immensity of space; a being whose centre 
is every where, and whose circumference is no where ; the Grod 
and father of all, that is above all, through all, and in all ; in 
whom we live, and move, and have our being. If the soul of 
man is made in the image or likeness of such a being as this, 
it must be spiritual, infinite in its nature, everlasting in its 
duration. Hence the correctness of the conclusion that the 
soul of man is the lowest order of celestial, and his body is 
the highest order of terrestrial creation ; which is confirmed 
by the testimony of the inspired psalmist, ^^Thou madesthim 
a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with 
honor and glory ; thou madest him to have dominion over the 
work of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet.'' 
Thus man is placed before us a superior being, composed of 
two natures, material and immaterial : the first, being a part 
of the material universe, was designed by its author for change 
and decay, as it is written, '^ Dust thou art, and unto dust 
thou shalt return.'' The second is an immaterial being, pos- 
sessing an immortal life that can never be annihilated. It was 
into this spiritual, or, as the apostle calls it, the inner man of 
the heart, that Grod breathed the breath of life, and it became 
a living soul — not a living body, for the body had been com- 
pleted in all its organic structure in the finishing of animated 
nature, and, breathing the atmospheric air that surrounds this 
globe, it became a living creature; which life continued seve- 
ral hundred years after Adam ate of the forbidden fruit, and 
therefore could not have been the life involved in the solemn 
declaration of Jehovah, when he said, the day thou eatest 
thereof thou shalt surely die. But the life that was lost by 

23* 



270 

transgression was that precious life of God that was breathed 
into man's immortal soul; that not only made him a pure, 
free, intelligent being, but endowed him with a capacity for 
the everlasting contemplation of infinite goodness and perfec- 
tion, placing him amongst the constellations of heaven, where 
he might shine with new accessions of glory, and brighten to 
all eternity, where the morning stars sing together, and all the 
sons of God forever shout for joy. 

But this wonderful being, created to glorify God and enjoy 
him for ever, gave way to temptation, which is the best de- 
scribed by the apostle James, where he says, ^^ Let no man 
say, when he is tempted, I am tempted of God ; for God can- 
not be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man ; but 
man is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lust and 
enticed; when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin; and 
sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death/' This is the 
death that Adam died the day he transgressed the Divine com- 
mand, having lost that life that is hid with Christ in GoD ; 
the stream of heavenly light and love that united him to his 
Heavenly Father, which constituted the only substantial source 
of rational happiness in time and eternity, was cut off, and his 
soul fell from its dignified station in the divine harmony, (when 
it governed the animal man with all its propensities, making 
them subservient to the purposes for which they were intend- 
ed,) and became a slave to that cruel, selfish nature, em- 
blematically described by the wolf, the leopard, the bear, and 
the lion; having lost the innocent angelic covering of God's 
righteousness, in vain did he attempt to hide his nakedness 
with a patched covering of fig-leaves; — there was nothing now 
so suitable to his state and condition as to be clothed with the 
skins of beasts. Therefore the Lord's prophet was bid to make 
use of the interesting figure contained in the text. The lamb, 
the kid, the cow, and the ox, are emblems of good men and 
women — while the wolf, the leopard, the bear, and the lion, 
are figures of the wicked. These last, we know, if they were 
confined in a small enclosure, would cruelly destroy each other, 
while the four innocent animals in the same enclosure would 
dwell harmoniously together. It was the innocent nature of 
the lamb that ruled in Abel, that made his offering so accepta- 
ble to God, while the cruel, carnivorous nature of the wolf was 
producing in Cain jealousy, envy, hatred, and murder; so that 



271 

it was marked in the very lines and configuration of his face. 
Hence the expostulation of the Almighty with him, saying, 
^^Why art thou wroth, and why is thy countenance fallen? if 
thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? but if thou d^est 
not well, sin lieth at the door/^ It was this wrathful, selfish, 
cruel, carnivorous nature that so increased and predominated 
over all good in the antediluvial world, that mankind became 
so dreadfully wicked that they were destroyed by an awful 
deluge. 

Noah and his family, in whom the most of the innocent na- 
ture reigned, was saved to re-people the earth; and notwith- 
standing his own uprightness, the same evil genius made its 
appearance in his family. The same was prefigured in Ishmael 
and Esau, as allegorically alluded to by the apostle Paul, and 
therefore the paradoxical difficulties that some have discovered 
in the writings of that truly spiritually-minded saint, with 
respect to the Almighty's loving Jacob and hating Esau, is 
easily understood; Jacob being in the innocent nature of the 
lamb, while Esau was in that of the wolf, the leopard, the bear, 
and the lion^ where cursed self reigns with all its cruel, blood- 
thirsty violence — the fountain of hatred, envy, jealousy, and 
all those malevolent passions and propensities that make man 
the enemy of man; producing not only bloody and destructive 
war, but all that dark catalogue of crime that characterises a 
fallen world of intelligent beings separated from the Divine 
harmony — justifying the correctness of a further view of the 
apostle James, when he says, " From whence come wars and 
fightings among you ? come they not hence, even of your lusts 
that war in youi* members ? Ye lust, and have not : ye kill, 
and desire to have, and cannot obtain. Ye fight and war.'' 
Oh! the confused noise of garments rolled in blood! Oh ! this 
direful disease of the soul, that commenced with the fall of 
man ! when the Lamb was slain from the foundation of the 
world, and a door was opened at which a dreadful wolf has 
entered, and made great devastation among the flock and family 
of God. This inveterate foe' or enemy to man's happiness 
again showed itself in the elder sons of Jacob, when they sold 
their brother Joseph into slavery, an act of cruelty and injus- 
tice that has continued from generation to generation, down to 
the present day ; and is certainly one of the dark shades that 
tarnish the lustre of our excellent republican government, that 



272 

might be more and more the admiration of the world; a shade 
that can only be effectually and consistently removed by the 
shining of the same sun of righteousness that shone forth in 
Joseph^ that enlightened the whole circle in which he moved, 
and opened a way where there appeared no way, not only for 
his emancipation from slavery, but his exaltation to the high- 
est station of trust and honor, where he manifested the most 
merciful, forgiving and benevolent spirit towards those that 
had cruelly treated him, by tearing him, as it were, from the 
arms of a fond and affectionate parent, and selling him to the 
Ishmaelitish merchants, that dealt in slaves. Oh ! that the 
descendants of Africa could be influenced by the same blessed 
spirit ! The same blessed God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and 
Josej)h, could open a way where there appears no way, so that 
the master and slave could settle their own business in justice, 
equity, harmony and peace, without the interference of politi- 
cal abolitionists, whose zealous exertions, notwithstanding the 
sincerity of their motives, appear to me to be obstructing the 
peaceable kingdom of Christ. I have a case exactly in point 
that now occurs to me, that will be an additional matter of 
fact argument in favor of my position. There lived, some 
sixty or seventy years ago, not twenty miles distant from the 
place of my nativity, a young colored man that was a slave, 
and being brought into a strait and difficulty in his mind fi'om 
the fear of death, he entered, like Jacob and Joseph, into co- 
venant with Grod ; and witnessing the regenerating power of 
eternal truth, it set his soul free from the law of sin and 
death. Thus become a changed man, the light of his meek 
and humble spirit so shone before his master, that he glorified 
God by an act of justice and mercy in setting his slave free, 
and that too without any solicitation from man. And the 
young man that was thus freed gave abundant evidence that 
he was worthy the blessing he enjoyed, by continuing to fol- 
low his Saviour in the path of humble industry, all the days 
of his life, which was lengthened out to more than ninety 
years. Oh ! that every slave and every slaveholder in my be- 
loved country would go and do likewise. The first would re- 
alize the estimable blessing embraced in the doctrine of Christ : 
*'If the Son and Truth set you free, then are you free in- 
deed 'y^ while the second would fulfil one of his greatest com- 
mandments, that embraces practical righteousness in its bless- 



273 

ed simplicity, " As ye would tliat men should do unto you, do 
ye even so unto them/' Oh ] that our modern philanthropists 
who, like the sister of Lazarus, are busy and troubled about 
many things, and who are complaining and casting reflections 
on their brethren and sisters who may be afraid of being im- 
pertinently officious without the gracious word from the Di- 
vine Master, — I say, that these would attend more to the 
one thing needful, and choose, like Mary, that better part, the 
glorious liberty of the children of God, which can never be 
taken away from them. 

But to return from a digression which some may be ready 
to think improper. The same enemy of man was again 
prefigured in Pharaoh king of Egypt, the same was also in 
Amalek, Moab, and all the enemies of Israel, influencing the 
apostate kings of Israel and Judah, the priests and false pro- 
phets — causing the Lord to mourn over his people, through 
the mouth of his true prophet, in language like this : ^^ Oh, 
my people I they that lead thee have caused thee to err, and 
have destroyed the way of thy paths." Thus heaping up 
wrath against the day of wrath, crowding a dreadful account, 
that people whom He had known above all the families of the 
earth, had forsaken him, the fountain of living water, and had 
hewn out for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns, that would 
hold no water- So that when the fulness of time had come, 
and Grod sent his Son, made of a woman, made under the law 
to redeem them that were under the law, that they might re- 
ceive the adoption of sons, he came to his own, but his own 
received him not ; but to as many as received him he gave 
them power to become the sons of Grod; and if children, then 
heirs ; heirs of Qod, and joint heirs with Christ. But such 
was the corrupt and desperately wicked state of the Jewish 
priesthood, the arrogance and spiritual pride of the high pro- 
fessors of religion, the sordid, selfish, avaricious, hard-hearted 
state of the great mass of the Jewish nation, that the Son and 
Sent of God was constrained to tell them that they were the 
children of the devil, and the lust of their father they would 
do, who was a liar and a murderer from the beginning, and 
abode not in the truth ; and for bearing testimony or witness 
to the Eternal Truth, they not only rejected him, but used 
all the power they were clothed with, and put the man that 
had told them the truth, and that was made of a woman, to 



274 

the ignominious death of the cross. While the Lamb of God, 
that taketh away the sin of the world, remained a propitiatory 
sacrifice for all that believe in him and experience repentance, 
to the end of the world, the Jew as well as the Gentile. Thus 
the darling attributes of everlasting mercy and goodness tri- 
umphed over all the power of darkness, opening a way for the 
restoration of a fallen world to its primeval state. 

When the blessed Jesus beheld the city of the Jews that 
was the subject, as it were, of a thousand prophecies, he wept 
over it in language like this- — " Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou 
that killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto 
thee, how often would I have gathered thy children as a hen 
gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not. 
Your house is left unto you desolate. Oh hadst thou but 
known in this thy day the things that belong to thy peace ; 
but now they are hid from thine eyes." The destruction of 
that devoted city by the Romans, and the dispersion of the 
Jews, is a catastrophe that has no parallel on the page of history; 
fulfilling literally that remarkably prophetic declaration of the 
divine Saviour, ^^They shall fall by the edge of the sword, 
they shall be led away captive into all nations, and Jerusalem 
shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, till the times of the 
Gentiles shall be fulfilled." And when we take into consider- 
ation that there remains but about one hundred and sixty 
years of the two thousand granted to the Gentile world, and 
that professing Christians have apostatized further from the 
precepts and example of their Holy Lawgiver than ever the 
Jews did from the law of Moses, it is a rational conclusion 
that tremendous and awful judgments will be poured forth 
upon Christendom in proportion to their high and holy profes- 
sion. For the Saviour says, ^' Where there is much given, 
there is much required : and he that knoweth his master's will, 
and doeth it not, shall be beaten with many stripes." Not- 
withstanding the ushering in of the glorious gospel dispensa- 
tion was attended with the heavenly anthem. Glory to God in 
the highest, on earth peace and good will to all men, the same 
evil spirit that appeared in the Garden of Eden, in the infant' 
state of the human family, made its appearance in the infant 
state of the church of Christ, presenting a, temptation to the 
lowest and most grovelling propensity of the human mind — 
a propensity which, whenever given way to, is peculiarly cal- 



275 

culated to make man a devil ; and hence the declaration of the 
Saviour, " Have I not chosen you twelve^ and one of you is a 
devil?'' He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. This 
man's besetting sin appears to have been the love of money; 
and notwithstanding he belonged to the first Christian meeting 
that was blessed with the ministry of the Saviour of the world, 
and had actually received from him a commission to preach 
the everlasting gospel, and to travel in the service, he had 
never submitted to the conditions contained in the text — " If 
any man will come after me, let him first deny himself, then 
take up his daily cross and follow me.'^ Therefore his cursed 
selfishness strengthened his love of money, and led him to as- 
similate with his own likeness, the priests and their satellites, 
who are not only lovers of money, but the greatest enemies of 
Jesus Christ, whom they bought (as they supposed) of this 
traitor, for thirty pieces of silver. 

Poor, unhappy, melancholy money-monger ! Instead of sub- 
mitting to the unchangeable terms of salvation laid down by 
thy blessed Saviour, thou aufferdest thy cursed selfish lust for 
money, and the friendship of the priests, to conceive and bring 
forth sin ; and that sin, when finished, produced the death of 
the Lamb, and the carnivorous reign of the Wolf; and there- 
fore thy name, wretched man that thou art, instead of being 
gloriously enrolled upon the records of eternity, is only to be 
found in the long living annals of infamy. Seeing then, that 
the love of money not only led one of the first Christians to 
commit the unnatural, unmanly and wicked act of suicide, is 
it any marvel that it should have occupied so prominent a 
place in the last exercises of that great apostle of the G-entiles, 
that, when writing to his son Timothy, he warns him to flee 
from all its consequences, adding, " they that would be rich, 
fall into temptation and a snare, and many hurtful and fool- 
ish lusts, which drown men in perdition and destruction ; for 
the love of money is the root of all evil ; which while some 
coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced them- 
selves through with many sorrows." 

I now feel a freedom in the ability I may be endowed with, 
to apply the subject more particularly to the several states in 
this large company of men and women, who, notwithstanding 
they may be composed principally of Friends, and friendly 
people, are before me as an epitome of the great family of man- 



276 

kind, whose animal bodies being compounded of the four 
principal elements — earth, air, water and fire — I shall divide 
them into four classes, and denominate them melancholy, san- 
guiiT^, phlegmatic and choleric. 

The man or woman in whom the element of earth predomi- 
nates, so as to produce that peculiar constitutional trait of 
character called melancholy, in their unregenerate state have 
all the characteristics of the wolf; and the Lord's prophet could 
not have been more happy in his choice of a figure, had he 
searched the whole chain of animated nature. The skulking 
solitary habits of the wolf, who generally retires in the day- 
time to the inmost recesses of the swamp, or the gloomiest 
glens of the forest, only coming forth to prowl and devour in- 
nocent and helpless animals under cover of the darkness of 
night, — he whose carnivorous appetite can never be satiated, 
presents the strong law of nature called self, in one of its most 
incorrigible attitudes ; and the reasonable beings whom it re- 
presents, that will not submit to the terms of salvation laid 
down by the blessed Saviour, to deny this cursed self, and take 
up the cross, are undoubtedly the most unhappy of mankind. 
This gloomy, hidden, reserved disposition enables them to 
keep their sorrows to themselves, till in the accumulation of 
imaginary troubles, their animal spirits, and indeed their whole 
system, become so affected as to produce that dreadful disease 
called complexional melancholy, which is as hereditary, and al- 
most as incurable as the pulmonary consumption; and all the cases 
of suicide, from Judas down to the present day, have sprung 
from this source. I know of no state more to be pitied, or one 
that has stronger claims on the sympathies of the true Chris- 
tian disciple 3 and it seems as if the beloved Paul might have 
been led to describe this state, when he so emphatically ex- 
claimed, "Oh wretched man that I am I" who shall deliver me 
from the body of this death ?" and oh that they could see like 
this precious saint, that it is Jesus Christ our Lord, who, 
when suffering in the flesh without the gates of Jerusalem, the 
just for the unjust, and baptized into this dreadful state, cried 
out, "My God! my G-od! why hast thou forsaken me?'' 
When these make profession of religion without being regene- 
rated and born again, they are wolves in sheep's clothing, and 
hence the origin of hypocrisy and deception in the religious 
world ; for this complexion being naturally disposed to be re- 



277 

ligious, there is more of tliem than all the other three put to- 
gether. Their steady, solid deportment, and very serious, 
solemn countenances, enable them to pass, as religious men 
and women, for more than they are worth; and they are put 
forward in religious communities, as the leaders of the people. 
This was, I apprehend, the state of Israel in the apostacy, when 
the Lord, through his prophet, solemnly reproved them; and 
our Saviour advises his disciples against carrying their religion 
in their faces, saying : " When ye fast, be not as the hypo- 
crites, of a sad countenance ; for they disfigure their faces, that 
they may appear to men to fast.^' Nothing is so obnoxious to 
this infinitely pure BeiDg, as a hypocritical state; and indeed 
it may be said at this door the enemy entered and made great 
devastation in the Christian church, and none have sufiered 
more according to their relative numbers, than the Society of 
Friends. 

And here permit me to declare the sentiments of my heart. 
Independent of all sectarian prejudices, I verily believe the 
people called Quakers, or Society of Friends, as they stood a 
distinct organized body of Christians, in the days of Fox, 
Penn and Barclay, were nearer the primitive standard than 
any others, both as respects doctrine and discipline. I loved 
them in my infancy, and although not born a member, I re- 
ceived my earliest and best impressions among them; 
and during my juvenile infatuation, when marching in 
the ranks as a soldier, my heart elated with the sound of the 
martial music, and the feathered foppery of the regimentaled 
warrior, the very sight of a plain, steady, consistent Friend, 
either young or old, filled me with respect and awe. And 
when I arrived at maturer age, and more serious consideration, 
I was united with them in religious fellowship, and few that 
have ever come among them have less cause to speak of their 
failings, or uncover their weaknesses, than I have ; because 
few have ever been treated with more brotherly kindness and 
affection; and however diversified with affliction the remainder 
of my life may prove, I shall ever consider it one of the great- 
est blessings that my lot was cast among them; nor can I con- 
ceive of any greater trouble in this world, than to be separated 
from the Society, and lose the unity of the spirit and the 
bond of peace. Nevertheless I dare not omit the discharge of 
a duty that appears to be required of me — to endeavor to 

24 



278 

point out some of the causes that have led to the present 
weak state of Society. Therefore, bear with me, beloved 
Friends, for flattery and smooth tales may feed fools, but it 
will not be acceptable to intelligent, honest people ; much less 
will it please Him whom I would wish to please in the gospel 
of his dear Son. 

I have 'already said that there were more men and women 
of a melancholy complexion professors of religion, and I may 
add especially in the Society of Friends : their quiet, steady, 
unobtrusive habits — their silent retirement — exemplary in- 
dustry and frugality — all unite in forming an asylum peculiar- 
ly fitted to a melancholy complexion, where its first nature 
may remain unsubdued; or, as oui- Saviour says, the strong 
man armed may keep the palace, and his goods be at ease ; 
where men and women that have never denied self, never wit- 
nessed the wolf to dwell with the lamb, may fill the most im- 
portant stations in Society, if they are only steady in their at- 
tendance of meetings, exemplary as to plainness of speech, 
behaviour and apparel; and more especially if they are of 
respectable connections, and are in the way of making money, 
and can lend their poorer brethren a few hundred dollars every 
year on usury — notwithstanding lending money to a brother 
on usury or interest is condemned and positively forbidden by 
the infinitely wise Jehovah, through his faithful servants, 
Moses, Nehemiah, David, Proverbs, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, 
and in these last days by his beloved son Jesus Christ. Friends 
not having recognised it as an evil, it by no means disqualifies 
them from being appointed clerks, overseers, elders and even 
preachers; and the apostle's excellent advice to his son Tim- 
othy, when making such appointments, not being attended to, 
in many meetings, the dreadful consequences that Paul allud- 
ed to have been realized ; they have been puffed up with pride 
and too many have fallen into the condemnation of the devil, 
ending, a disgrace to the cause of Christ, and a burthen on 
Society. In the small circle in which I have moved, I have, 
alas, known too many Friends, and among them three minis- 
ters, two of which crossed the Atlantic ocean, come to this 
most wretched and melancholy end. I am aware I may lay 
myself open to censure by publishing such things ; but the 
time has come that the hidden things of Esau must be brought 
to light, and effects traced to causes : for I have no doubt but 



279 

that one of the principal causes of the weak state of Society 
is the injudicious appointment or promotion of Friends, both 
young and old, to important stations, that are what the apos- 
tle Paul called Novices, that is, men and women without heart- 
felt religious experience; having never denied self, or witness- 
ed the wolf to dvfeli with the lamb. Hence the spiritual 
pride, religious consequence and malignant enthusiasm that cha- 
racterized the belligerent party among Friends, in the late un- 
happy and disgraceful controversy. 

And here I will meet the sceptical cavillers, and more or- 
thodox enemies of Friends — one of which, a neighboring 
physician, informed me that it was the opinion of the faculty 
that there were more cases of suicide occurred in the Society 
of Friends than in any other society. Since which I have 
been informed, by respectable authority, that it was the pre- 
vailing opinion among the same class in England. Admitting 
it to be the fact, there being so many more melancholy people 
belonging to the Society, for reasons already given, rationally 
accounts for it, without leaving a stigma on the principles of 
the Christian religion as professed by Friends. Indeed, I have 
no doubt but the greater part of the Friends of the first con- 
vincement were of this constitutional make; but as the great 
doctrine of regeneration and the new birth was the burthen of 
their ministry, they had experimental knowledge of it within 
themselves, and knew Christ, the Lamb of God, that taketh 
away the sins of the world, to bring into subjection all their 
wolfish nature, and establish the kingdom of heaven, which 
Jesus emphatically declared was within. Hence their non- 
resistance, their love for each other, their unexampled patience 
under sufiering, and steady perseverance in well-doing to a 
peaceable and happy conclusion. • But such as did not witness 
this change of heart, but retained a part of their first nature, 
not having the same swamp of worldly-mindedness, or com- 
fortable glen of money-making, to retire to, like the Quakers 
of the present day, in consequence of an unjust and cruel law 
then existing in England, — by which they were dragged from 
their religious meetings, arraigned before a despotic tribunal, 
where the oath of allegiance being tendered, which they 
could not take for conscience sake, their real estate was con- 
fiscated for life, and their personal estate for ever, and their 
bodies imprisoned during the king's pleasure: I say, such of 



280 

the primitive Quakers as remained in the mixture, and were 
like Ephraim, a cake not turned, showed their wolfish nature 
by the same wild, fanatical howlings and eccentric wanderings 
that have hung ujjon the rear of the Christian church in all 
ages, from the hateful Nicolaitans alluded to by John in his 
Revelations, down to the wrong-headed enthusiasts of the pre- 
sent day. Witness John Parrott's insignificant quibble about 
rising in the time of public prayer, which ended in his decid- 
ed opposition to Fox, Penn and Barclay, and becoming one of 
the most subtle and bitter persecutors of our early Friends ; 
witness, too, the fanatical ranterism of Story and Wilkinson, 
opposing the established order and discipline of Society, which 
ended in a similar manner. 

Oh ! how sorrowful the consideration, that the religion of 
Jesus Christ, embracing a system of ethics so pure, so hea- 
venly, so rational, so peculiarly calculated to make mankind 
happy in time and in eternity, should be so shamefully man- 
gled and perverted by that man of sin and son of perdition, 
when the evil can so easily and certainly be prevented by sub- 
mitting to the unchangeable terms contained in the text. 
What a pity that a people that the Lord Almighty raised up 
for the purpose of reviving and preserving primitive Christi- 
anity, who were led to assume the awful responsibility of be- 
ing the friends of Christ, to do whatever he commanded them, 
should by their disobedience be only the transient glory of a 
couple of centuries, when it was designed in the councils of 
infinite wisdom they should be an eternal excellency — the 
joy of the whole earth. A people that have j^roclaimed to 
the world that they have submitted to the terms laid down by 
Christ, by placing self-denial on the forehead of their high 
and holy profession, but have suffered an insidious enemy to 
draw them so far away from the weightier matters of Grod's 
holy law, judgment, mercy and faith, as to be in danger of be- 
ing engulfed in the same vortex that has swallowed up other 
reformers from the church of Rome. 

Oh ! that the precious visited youth would arise and shake 
themselves from the dust of the earth — the love of money — 
the love of superficial learning — the love of fame— the love of 
speculation, and those vain babblings that are leading them 
away from the religion of Jesus in its blessed simplicity into 
the broad way that must lead to destruction. Oh ! that they 



281 

would put on tlie beautiful garments of primitive Christianity, 
that they might be judges as at the first, and counsellors as at 
the beginning — such ministers of the Lord as would weep and 
pray between the porch and the altar before ofiering their gifts 
— such gifts as would sanctify the congregation, assemble the 
elders, gather the children, and them that suck the breast, 
from the renewed visitation of Infinite Goodness and Mercy 
to the rising generation. 

I am revived with a hope of better things and things that 
accompany salvation, though I thus speak -, and if there is 
now within the audience of my voice, one poor, dear, suffer- 
ing child of G3d, that in consequence of this melancholy cast 
is ready to sink into the quicksands of despair, whose sins" 
have become so exceeding sinful that they are crying, " Oh ! 
wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body 
of this death?" let them thank God, who will undoubtedly 
give them the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ, who has 
promised to him that overcometh evil, ^^ will I give to sit with 
me in my throne, even as I have overcome and have set down 
with my Father in his throne ] let them be encouraged from 
the consideration that they are now drinking of the cup the 
Saviour drank of, when he said, " I have a baptism to be bap- 
tized with, but how am I straightened till it is accomplished;" 
and that they are filling up their portion of his sufferings 
when he said, ^^My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto 
death ;" let them lift up their heads in hope, for their salva- 
tion draws nigh, when the comforting language will be ad- 
dressed to their souls — " Ye are they that have continued 
with me in my temptations^ and I appoint unto you a kinf^-- 
dom/' 

The best examples of practical righteousness I have ever 
known, both amongst Friends and others, have been of the 
melancholy cast, that have denied self, taken up the daily cross, 
and followed Christ; they become as innocent as lambs; and 
though playfully cheerful, they are as incapable of hurting their 
fellow-creatures ; and in whatever nation, tongue, or people, 
they are to be found, they are such as fear God and work ricrht- 
eousncss, and, consequently, are accepted with Am,— "and 
whether an Indian or an African sun has shone upon them, 
they are Christ's sheep, that hear his voice and follow hiio, and 
he will give unto them eternal life, and none shall pluck them 

24* 



282 

out of his hand. Some of the brightest stars amongst our 

primitive Friends were of this constitutional cast. Dear J 

AY , whose righteousness, innocence, and purity of life has 

never been exceeded in latter days, manifested, when on the 
confines of eternity, what I consider the true Christian state^ 
self-abasement and humility of soul, as expressed in the follow- 
ing testimony : "• My trust is in the Lord Jesus, who, I hope, 
will forgive my sins f^ and in allusion to the trials and tempta- 
tions through which he had passed, he added, ^' they now seem 
to be pretty well over, and I look at the face of my dear Re- 
deemer, for sweet is his voice and his countenance is comely/^ 
These last expressions shew such a belief in Christ as my sonl 
longs after. Oh, that every melancholy soul could arrive at 
this truly Christian state, — they would be happy in time and in 
eternity. 

I have still greater encouragement, as well as some solemn 
instruction for my fellow-pilgrims of this class. The beloved 
John, as well as Judas, was constitutionally melancholy ] the 
one shews that by denying self and taking up the daily cross, 
and steadily persevering in following- Christ, the highest state 
of perfection may be attained. While the other places before 
us the dreadful consequences of slighting a Saviour's supreme 
command, and giving way to that sin that ceaselessly besets 
this state — the love of money. For we are told, that at the 
last supper Judas sat next to the beloved John at the table, 
and though apparently listening with the greatest attention to 
the gracious words of his Divine Master, his right hand appears 
convulsively to grasp the bag of money, for he had just been 
preaching, what in this day might be called a charity sermon, 
shewing the impropriety of wasting any thing that could be 
sold for money. Hear a part of it, and what the inspired writer 
says of him : " For what purpose is this waste ? this ointment 
might have been sold for three hundred peuce and given to the 
poor; not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a 
thief, and kept the bag and bare what was put therein." I do 
not wish to dwell on this gloomy subject, but reall}'-, dear friends, 
my mind is most seriously and solemnly impressed with an ap- 
prehension that this, our besetting sin — the love of money — is 
sending more Quakers to perdition and destruction than all 
other causes put together ; for this appearance of Satan is so in- 
sidious — so subtle — keeps such good and respectable company 



283 

"=-goes so well dressed^ and lias become so popular and highly 
esteemed among men, that although an abomination in the sight 
of God, the devastation that it is making in his family is incal- 
culable ; and the consideration is awful that this sordid, selfish 
spirit, will constitute that worm that will never die, and the 
malevolent passions of jealousy, envy, and hatred, which stands 
inseparably connected with it, will form a part of the flames of 
that fire that is never quenched ; and this fire, said the primitive 
Quaker preachers, the unregenerate soul must dwell with to all 
eternity. 

I said that the beloved disciple John was constitutionally 
melancholy; I verily think so; and I may add, that Greorge 
Fox was of the same natural complexion, being remarkable for 
his sobriety and seriousness from a child ; so was John, who even 
in his minority became one of the first converts of his name- 
sake, that truly great Baptist preacher that produced such an 
efi'ect upon the Jewish nation, that all Jerusalem and Judea 
went out to him and were baptized in Jordan. The beloved 
disciple was now a follower of the Baptist, and one of the testi- 
monies of this great preacher appears to have made the deepest 
impression on bis mind, where he said, «^I indeed baptize you 
with water, but there cometh one after me that is preferred be- 
fore me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose ; 
He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire ;" and 
seeing Jesus pass by he cried out, ^' Behold the Lamb of God, 
that taketh away the sin of the world." This appears to have 
convinced John that he must now leave the Baptist and follow 
Christ. And notwithstanding that he was evidently advancing 
in the great work of regeneration, his selfish nature was still 
strong, more especially when he wished to monopolize the chief 
seats on the right hand and on the left in Christ's kingdom, and 
actually made private application, in company with his mother 
and his brother James. This act, together with his forbidding 
one that he saw casting out devils in the name of Christ, be- 
cause he did not follow with him, is abundant proof of that sel- 
fish, narrow, contracted spirit that is ever the companion of the 
unregenerate, melancholy state ; and the reproof that it met 
with from the Divine Saviour, ought for ever to silence such 
intolerance and bigotry : ^' Forbid him not, for no man can do 
a miracle of this kind that speaketh lightly of me ;" '' he that 
is not against us, is on our part.'' This short but powerful 



284 

sermon had the desired effect, and this beloved disciple was pre- 
pared to follow a suffering Saviour to Golgotha; and when the 
other disciples forsook him and fled, John was found with the 
mother of Jesus and thoac faithful and affectionate women that 
stood by the cross, where neither the grim visage of the Ro- 
man soldier^ nor the malignant scoffs and sneers of the priests 
and their satellites, could prevent them from pouring the ten- 
derest sympathies of their souls in a flood of tears, till it drew 
from the Heavenly Sufferer a language like this : *' Daughters 
of Jerusalem, weep not for rae;" and although laboring with 
the most excruciating pain of body, with still greater anguish 
of soul, occasioned by the tremendous weight of the sins of a 
fallen world, which caused him to cry out, "Eloi ! Eloi ! lama 
sabachthani \" he remembered his precious mother, commend- 
ing her to the care of his beloved John. Oh ! what depth of 
solemn instruction is presented here. 
"Heaven's sovereign blessings, clusterinG: from the cross, 

Rush on and close around the prisoner of amaze. 

In his blessed life we see the path, and in his death the pure. 

And in his great ascent the glorious Truth supreme. 

Did he arise ? He did ! Hear it, oh ye heavens ! 

Hear it, oh thou earth ! He rose ! He rose ! 

He burst the bands of death ! Lift up your heads, 

Ye everlasting gates, and give the King of Glory to come in." 

Oh ! dear young man, whoever thou art, that feels a longing 
after heaven and holiness, here is not only instruction, but 
great encouragement. See what a state of perfection this young 
man arrived at by obedience and steady perseverance in the 
line of Divine appointment. What an important lesson to 
young men, touching the concern they ought to feel for their 
dear mother, who supported them on her breast in their in- 
fancy, watching their sleeping couch, and anticipating all their 
wants; that mother that nursed them in sickness — the blessed 
instrument that should kindle the first devotional feelings on 
the altar of the heart. Oh, dear children, you owe much to 
this precious parent ; and if she is a widow, she has a double 
claim upon your attention — an attention that will undoubtedly 
be paid by the peculiar blessings of heaven. Never then, I be- 
seech of you, pierce with sorrow that breast that has been your 
support in your infantile years, by acts of disobedience, imperti- 
nence, or neglect. What confidence was placed in the beloved 
John, that he should have the care of the mother of the blessed 



285 

Jesms ; and tlien be tlie first man that witnessed his resurrection, 
and continuing with him during the forty days he was going in 
and out amongst them, speaking of the things pertaining unto 
the kingdom of Grod. He was present on the ever memorable 
day of Pentecost, and received Mm in his blessed spiritual ap- 
pearance, agreeably to his promise, " I will not leave you com- 
fortless, I will come unto you again in the character of the Corn- 
former, or the Spirit of Truth, which the world cannot receive, 
because it seeth him not ; but ye see him, for he dwelleth with 
you, and shall be in you, and at that day ye shall know that I 
am in the Father, and you in me, and I in you." From hence- 
forth the beloved John shone forth as the brightness of the 
firmament, and as an instrument that turned many to righteous- 
ness. He will continue to shine as one of the brightest stars 
for ever and ever. 

Such was the perfection of this precious saint, that he seem- 
ed all light, and all love ; and like his Divine Master, he delight- 
ed in saving that that was lost. A certain young man, that 
was convinced through John's ministry, whose talents and quali- 
fications were of the highest order, and whom he had adopted 
as one of his children, during his absence on a long journey, 
went ofi", and walked no more with him; joining a band of rob- 
bers in the mountains, he had become their captain. When 
John returned, he made particular inquiry after this son, of 
those to whom he had committed the care of him, no doubt 
with a charge to deal gently with the young man. When he 
was informed of his departure, he wept and grieved like the . 
patriarch Jacob, in beholding the bloody garment of his dear 
Joseph, but not willing to give him up, he determined to leave 
the ninety and nine and go after the lost sheep. In vain did his 
friends try to persuade him his life would be in danger^ and that 
the object of his pursuit was irreclaimable ; he persisted in his 
determination, and had not penetrated far into the mountainous 
country before he was taken by a straggling detachment of the 
gang, and he requested they would take him to their captain. 
As soon as the chief of the robbers recognized his Christian father, 
he precipitately fled, when the dear old man ran after him, cry- 
ing, "Stop, my son, my dear son," in so affecting a manner that 
the young man, who by this time was so overcome with emo- 
tioas of sorrowj stood still,— when the loving disciple fell upon 



286 

his neck weeping aloud and kissing him as a mother would her 
only child. The ferocious visage of the mountain robber was 
now changed into more than female softness, and baptized, as it 
were, in his own tears, he returned with his Christian father as 
a penitent prodigal to the bosom of the church, and continued 
faithful to the end of his days. Oh ! ye that profess to be fathers 
in the church, ministers, elders, deacons, or overseers, here is 
an example worthy of your imitation. How many precious 
young men that have gifts and qualifications to be greatly good, 
through a want of your Christian care, have strayed from the 
fold of Christ, and though they may not directly be joined to a band 
of robbers, or idle speculators, are they not wanderers on the bar- 
ren mountains of empty profession, exposed to those devouring 
wolves in sheep's clothing — and are calling loudly for such 
fatherly concern as was manifested by the beloved John ; a 
concern that continued with him to the close of his earthly pil- 
grimage, in his ninety and ninth year ; for we are infoimed that 
the last meeting he ever attended, he was so weak and feeble 
his friends had to carry him in their arms, when he preached 
his last sermon, which should never be forgotten— cZ<?ar little 
children love one another — " God is love, ivnd they that dwell 
in love dwell in G-od, and God in them." 

Seeing then, that there is such a state as perfection in Christ 
to be attained to, even in this state of existence, or he never 
would have commanded his disciples to be perfect, even as their 
Father that is in heaven is perfect, let the aged, the middle-aged, 
and the dear youth of this class be encouraged, for the same 
God and Father of all, that is above all, through all, is in you 
all, an omnipresent Saviour, pre-eminently clothed with the 
glorious attribute of mercy, and will never leave nor forsake 
you; but will preserve you in the time of temptation and deliver 
you from all evil. Lift up your heads in hope, oh ye that 
see your sins to be exceeding sinful, for your salvation draws 
nigh. It is true you owe an abundance to your God, and there 
is an abundance that you can never pay, but oh that precious 
Saviour that said to the poor palsied man, '' Son, thy sins are 
forgiven thee," and to the tender-hearted woman that washed 
his feet with tears, " Daughter, thy sins, which are many, are 
forgiven thee," will speak peace to your afBicted souls. Let not, 
then, your hearts be troubled ; believe in God ; believe also in 



287 

his dear Son, who emphatically declares to his discouraged dis- 
ciples, "In my Father's house there are many mansions^ if it 
were not so, I would have told you ; I go to prepare a place for 
you, and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come unto 
you again, that where I am, there ye may be also. My peace 
I leave with you, my peace I give unto you ; not as the world 
giveth give I unto you ; let not your hearts be troubled, neither 
let them be afraid/' 

I come now to a class so entirely different, that they may be 
considered almost like antipodes to those I have been address- 
ing ; men and women in whose animal economy the element of 
air predominiites, producing that constitutional character called 
■ sanguine. To describe these, in their unredeemed and unregen- 
erated state, the Lord's prophet has been equally bappy in the 
selecting of his figure from the animal creation, "The leopard 
shall lie down with the kid." The leopard is the most subtle, crue 1, 
restless creature, and at the same time the most beautiful of all 
the carnivorous animals of the cat kind ; but wo be to the un- 
suspecting admirers of its beauty, should they attempt to mani- 
fest any personal familiarity or kindness, because it will destroy 
the very hand that feeds it. Men and women of this class, in 
their sinful state, are not to be depended upon, and when young 
are impatient of the restraints of virtuous discipline ; and even 
in their minority, break through the enclosure of parental care 
and commence that terrible career in vanity that must end in 
vexation of spirit. Excessively fond of company, more especial- 
ly where there is gaiety, music and dancing, they frequent 
taverns and places of diversion, where young men too often be- 
come an easy prey to the demon of intemperance and sensuality ; 
and the poor negatively innocent female is too often seduced by 
these beautiful monsters, more cruel than the leopard, who rob 
them of their virtue, and destroying their innocence and reputa- 
tion, leave them in a state of desperation or despair, where, 
afraid to meet the tears of their parents, the chidings of their 
relations, or the scoffs and sneers of their youthful companions, 
they too often fly to those sinks of pollution in our towns and 
cities, where being further debased, even below brutality, they 
blot out of their very nature every thing that was once agree- 
able and beautiful, and, at last, come to an untimely and most 
miserable end. 



288 

" Where groaning hospitals eject their dead, 
While many groan for sad admission there ; 
While many, once in fortune's lap high fed, 
Solicit the cold hand of charity.'' 

Oh! that such libertines would solemnly reflect upon the 
dreadful account that thej must finally settle before the judg- 
ment seat of quick and dead ^ and oh that they could be per- 
suaded, before it is too late, that there still remains an ever- 
lasting friend and blessed Saviour of sinners, that seeks to 
save that that is lost; the same that cast out of one for- 
merly the whole number of evil spirits: licentiousness— ig- 
norance — intemperance — ivrathfulness — clevilishness — covetous- 
ness— pride ; — and filled the empty soul with seven heavenly 
and angelic spirits — virtue — linowledge — temperance — pa- 
tience — godliness — hrotherli/ Idndness and cliarity ; but alas ! 
for these when they reject this darling attribute of mercy and 
call into their aid that abominable abomination of all abomina- 
tions, unbelief, and a persuasion that death is an eternal sleep. 
To such, the writings of the sophistical Paine are the most re- 
lieving and edifying, because they are peculiarly calculated to 
work on their narrow and debauched understandings. Should 
such men and women marry, the act certainly would be highly 
honorable ; but the sacred covenant would be likely to be broken, 
if not trampled under foot with impunity; for there is no con- 
fidence to be placed in such, particularly men, who too often 
leave their poor wives to sufier for the want of the comforts, if 
not the very necessaries of life, while the careless, shackling, 
unmanly husband is found spending his time and money at 
taverns, tippling houses, gambling tables, or houses of ill-fame, 
participating in the most tremendous quarrellings and fightings, 
attended with blasphemous expressions and the most vulgar 
and bitter imprecations,' with a confused noise that could scarce- 
ly be equalled by the howling of the wolf— the screaming of 
the leopard — the growling of the bear, or the roaring of the 
lion — thus debased below the very brute creation, with all the 
manly feelings totally extinguished. Such poor creatures are 
too often seen in our country, staggering along the high way, 
with their black jug and corncob stopper, containing the re- 
mains of a quart of whiskey, purchased of some Judas that 
would sell his Saviour for money. Should the sanguine wife 
of such a man as this be, what they too often are, prodigious 



289 

scolds, tlie scene thafc would be likely to take place, when he 
arrived at his uncomfortable home, I have no language that 
possesses force sufficient adequately to describe. I shall, there- 
fore, leave it for the temperance lecturer, who, perhaps, has 
ransacked the scriptures from G-enesis to Revelations for ap- 
propriate texts, and committed to memory the novel incidents 
so awfully painted in the temperance tracts ; telling the same 
story so often, that by this time he has it so pat that his eloquence 
may be irresistible; notwithstanding it may be among the pos- 
sible circumstances that he has never denied self, or taken up 
the cross of Christ, but is pursuing that echo of folly and sha- 
dow of renown, called popularity, or the more common and, if 
possible, more selfish object of a good salary. If so, he is an 
hireling, to all intents and purposes, and careth not for the 
sheep, and, therefore, may be compared to one of the seven 
sons of Sceva, a Jew and chief of the priests that we read of in 
the days of the apostles, who undertook to make a mercenary 
concern of casting out evil spirits, saying, " We adjure you by 
Jesus that Paul preaches;'' and the evil spirit answered and 
said, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are ye;" and 
the man in whom the evil spirit was, leaped upon them, and 
overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled 
out of the house naked and wounded ; but the man who seems 
to have gained the victory remained possessed of the devil. 

Such appears to me most likely to be the end of all these 
popular advocates for moral reform, that has neither the 

pure religion of Jesus, nor the noble patriotism of Paul 

The drunkard will leap upon them and overcome them, while 
the demon of intemperance will keep possession of his unhappy 
victim. I know of no class of American citizens more truly to 
bo pitied and felt for than the poor, habitual drunkard, deprived 
of almost every acquisition that can procure the comforts of 
life ; deprived of the social and relative enjoyments of their own 
families — scolded by their wives — hated by their children — de- 
spised by the proud and looked down on with contempt by the 
rich ; shunned by the moral and pitied by the pious, without 
reputation, without property, compelled from necessity to un- 
dergo the most unpleasant and laborious employments, by land 
and by sea, by night and by day, in summer's heat and win- 
ter's cold ; and after thus ploughing the waves of the deepest 
affliction, they at last may reap despair. Oh I that the Shep- 

25 



290 

herd of Israel, that sleeps not by day nor slumbers by nigbfr, 
would extend the crook of his love and mercy and snatch 
these poor dear creatures from the horrible pit. Oh ! that he 
would now, in his spiritual appearance cast out the legion of 
evil spirits, and bring these poor bruised and naked souls to his 
blessed feet^ where, clothed in their right mind^ they will know 
Jesus Christ to be a propitiation for their sins. And oh ! that 
these poor, discouraged, peevish, fretful wives, and all cross, 
scolding women, especially such as have been so long afflicted 
with this direful disease, so as to become crookedly deformed, 
(that is) entirely different from what they were when they con- 
stituted the beloved object of their husband's youthful affections, 
— I say, could these believe in an omnipresent Saviour, and 
press through the crowd of difficulties till they could touch, in 
a spiritual sense, the hem of his garment, his heavenly virtue 
would cure their sin-sick souls, as certainly as he cured the 
woman we read of in the New Testament ; and that selfish, cat- 
like nature, that was the source of their misery, would be de- 
nied, and taking up the cross of Christ, they would wit- 
ness the leopard to lie down with the kid ; and when they had 
experienced this great change of heart, they could no more hide 
themselves amongst the gay, the light, and chaffy spirits of 
the world, than the woman that was cured by touching the Sa- 
viour's garment could hide herself in the crowd ; but like her, 
they would be constrained to come forward, and in the presence 
of Christ, declare publicly what great things he had done for 
their souls. Blessed are such among women, and blessed is 
the fruit of their lips. I have heard the everlasting gospel 
preached in the demonstration of the Spirit, and with more feel- 
ing power, from such a woman, than I ever heard from the lips 
of man. 

I will now take a view of sanguine men and women. As 
members of civil society, while under the influence of their 
first nature, they are so light and chaffy in their spirits, and 
moreover as changeable as the element and animal that rules 
them, that there is very little confidence to be placed in their 
promises or engagements. Having more imagination than 
mind, they too often spend their little stock of energy in think- 
ing and telling what they intend to do, so that they have 
nothing left to carry out their plans, or meet their contracts. 
Hence the cause of the almost total loss of private and public 



-^91 

confideQce^ by a series of failures and bankruptcies, that are 
not only unchristian, but unmanly and dishonorable, a dis- 
grace to religion, and a serious injury to the commonwealth. 
Speculation being so fashionable, attended with a gambling 
spirit so fascinating, that sanguine people I fear are approach- 
ing a vortex of greater ruin, as respects the risk of credit, the 
war of interest, and the crush of property, than this country 
has ever experienced ; when the wolf, the leopard, the bear and 
the lion, while biting, scratching, squeezing, and tearing each 
other, will cause many a poor lamb, kid, cow, and ox to suffer 
severely. 

But it is under a profession of religion without a change of 
heart, that sanguine men and women do the most injury to the 
cause of Christ ; for they are quite disposed to be religious, 
provided they can have it on their own terms; but it must be 
spotted, like the beautiful animal that rules in them, and full 
of excitement and activity. They are more especially at home 
in tbeir favorite element, under the influence of a popular 
mania, called religious revivals and moral reforms. Every 
kind of business must give way to religious meetings, night 
meetings, camp meetings, class meetings, prayer meetings, 
singing meetings, temperance lectures, abolition and coloniza- 
tion lectures, and many others that I cannot mention, where 
they are the most active and the most happy creatures; but 
being naturally disposed to shackle, they too soon fall into 
the sin that the primitive saints considered worse than infi- 
delity ; that is, neglecting to make a proper provision for their 
own families. For the sons of that glorious morning were so 
Tery tenacious of the example that God had placed before 
them in the person of his dear Son, walking in the path of 
humble industry, that they required of every member of the 
church, that they should maintain or support themselves and 
families by the labor of their own hands, (not their heads) : 
and hence the commandment in their pure but simple disci- 
pline, ^^if any would not work, neither should they eat :^^ a 
commandment that would be very unpopular amongst the san- 
guine members in the present day, who not only neglect to 
work with their hands, that they may walk honestly towards 
them that are without, and that they may lack nothing ; but 
are content to live on the industry of others, by getting a sala- 
17 as preachers, or their expenses borne out of the funds of 



292 

Society, or some profession or office of profit and honor, by 
which they can live without working with their own hands ; 
and such as cannot gain this point too often run in debt and 
borrow money : then the melancholy and phlegmatic brother 
must be applied to for money or credit, with all the sancti- 
monious, long-faced innocence of a very pretty spotted kid 5 
their feelings and interest being excited, the money is forth- 
coming, and a promise is made to pay at a certain time, with 
legal interest from the date thereof. But when the kind usurer 
calls for his money, the poor sanguine debtor is neither able 
nor willing to pay ; and should the honest • creditor appeal to 
the laws of his country for redress in such a grievance, he 
will soon find himself in contact with something like a cruel 
leopard, that would now destroy the hand that was stretched 
forth for relief; tearing the reputation of their friend to pieces 
and having the eye of the cat, that is peculiarly calculated to 
see best in the dark, with a restless impetuosity they will try 
to destroy every good trait in the character of the object of 
their resentment. Such are the effects of the besetting sin of 
sanguine men and women, professing to be Christians while 
they remain strangers to regeneration and the new birth. The 
astonishing quickness with which they can see faults and fail- 
ings in their friends and neighbors, often reminds me of the 
man in the fable, who had his neighbor's faults and his own 
in a wallet on his shoulder, taking good care to have his neigh- 
bor's always in the fore end of the wallet, so that he could 
always see them first. Such, I conceive, were those women 
that Paul tried to silence in the Corinthian church — the same 
that he alludes to in one of his epistles to Timothy — idle wo- 
men, wandering from house to house, and not only idle, but 
tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things they ought not. 
Now such women as these, that always will have their friends 
and neighbors' failings in the fore part of the wallet, under 
the continual inspection of their restless cat's-eyes, which, as 
I said before, can see best in the dark, unless they can be per- 
suaded to have the wallet turned so that their own faults can 
be placed before them, are very troublesome members of meet- 
ing, and hence the propriety of the apostle commanding them 
to be silent in the church -, but I am not prepared to believe 
that the great apostle of the Gentiles would ever command a 
good woman to be silent in the church. Paul was a heavenly- 



293 

mirded man, and consequently, as a man of good sense, must 
liave known that there were no sexes in souls, and that the 
gift of the ministry was a gift bestowed upon the soul to save 
souls ; and having declared his belief that male and female 
were one in Christ, he never could have been so inconsistent 
as to have even supposed that in the church of Christ men 
were only eligible to the office of prophet, or preacher, when 
he must have known and united with the four daughters of 
Philip, that prophesied, and his beloved sister Phebe, whom 
he so highly commended, and by whom he sent his epistle to 
the church at Rome, and all those women that he tells us 
helped him in the gospel ; and as to his remarks about the 
woman being in the transgression, they appear to me to em- 
brace the same allegorical instruction as similar remarks about 
the son of the bond woman and the son of the free woman, in 
the case of the children of Abraham; and even if Paul was 
at times partially influenced by the prejudices of his college 
education, or the traditions of his fathers, the very declaration 
he makes, that the Son of Grod was made of a woman, will 
more than counterbalance all the illiberal and irrational con- 
structions that have been put upon his sayings touching the 
rights of women. Adding to this the fact, that the fii'st per- 
fect Christian that was made by this Son of G-od was a woman 
— a woman, too, that manifested more Christian tenderness, 
more Christian humility, more Christian love, more Christian 
faithfulness, than eleven out of twelve of the men that were 
first chosen by Divine appointment to preach his gospel, — and 
mark, it was this woman that had the high honor of being the 
first witness of his glorious resurrection 3 no doubt the be- 
loved Paul would place such women, where every consistent 
Christian man ought to place them, next to the angels of 
heaven : and so far from commanding them to be silent in the 
church, would further unite with every consistent Christian 
in sincerely wishing that there were more such precious women 
that were constrained by the love of Christ to preach the ever- 
lasting gospel. But I am free to confess that I think it quite 
possible that the apostle Paul felt a freedom to call into his 
aid the opinions of darker ages respecting the inferiority of 
women, in a case of a serious difficulty in the Corinthian 
church : for it appears that some deluded females then and 
there perverted the order of nature, and destroyed the divine 

25* 



294 

harmony of grace, by usurping an authority or position that 
did not become them, and sacrificing modesty, humility, and 
love, (the crown and diadem of a good woman), at the shrine of 
pride, presumption, arrogance, malignant enthusiasm, bigotry, 
hardness of heart and cruelty — those seven spirits that our 
Lord said entered into the man out of whom the unclean spirit 
had gone, and made his last state worse than the first. When 
such women as these have sufficient influence to be acknow- 
ledged teachers or preachers, they are likely to make sad work 
in the church, by tearing asunder the most sacred and tender 
ties, separating husbands and wives, parents and children, 
brethren and sisters, and causing some that professed to be the 
friends of Christ to hate one another. And, should I be at 
liberty to judge from the fruits I have seen of such preaching 
even in my day, had I Paul's authority and influence, 1 should, 
like him, command such women to be silent in the church ; 
but I wish distinctly to be understood, that I do not apply this 
mischievous spirit exclusively to females ; far from it : for I 
think I have seen too many men that would wish to pass for 
gentlemen and Christians, that were like Paul's silly women, 
led captive by this sin, and laden with the lusts thereof, and 
therefore never could arrive at the knowledge of the Truth as 
it is in Jesus. 

These deluded votaries of Anti-Christ, wherever they are to 
be found, are too often blowing the flames of discord and con- 
tention; not only destroying connubial happiness and the 
peace of private families, but the harmony of neighborhoods 
and the unity of religious associations, to the great grief and 
trouble of the more peaceable members of civil and religious 
society. I would appeal to the presiding elders among the 
Methodists, the respectable deacons among the Presbyterians, 
and, in a word, the faithful watchmen in all societies, with 
the overseers among Friends, for the truth of the declaration. 

I believe there are fewer sanguine people among Friends, in 
proportion to their numbers, than any others, (for rea- 
sons which I think I have already given,) and what there 
is are mostly birth-right members, who are too often 
finding fault with the order of Society— particularly plain- 
ness of dress, behaviour and apparel ^ and animadverting 
with great severity on the bigoted notion of keeping to their 
own meetings, and not mixing with other societies; and 



295 

appear so liberal that I am afraid they would turn Christian 
liberty into licentiousness. These kind of Friends remind me 
of a set of restless, discontented Jews, that we read of in the 
days of the outward advent of the Saviour, called Gadarenes, 
who opposed the order and economy of the Israelitish church, 
and seemed so particularly offended at Moses prohibiting the 
use of swine's flesh, (in consequence of its predisposing the 
human body to putrid diseases in that warm climate,) that 
they would, in their perverse selfishness, keep whole herds of 
hungry hogs on their barren mountains, to the great annoy- 
ance of their more orthodox neighbors. These sanguine Ga- 
darenes, being in a state of mind in such perfect accord- 
ance with their favorite animal, it is no marvel that our Saviour 
found a legion of devils among them ; which, when dispos- 
sessed of their more comfortable quarters, would naturally 
wish to go into what they would think the next best place for 
them, notwithstanding the rational supposition that such a 
superabundance of obstinate selfishness might drive the poor 
swine headlong to destruction ; and being disappointed in their 
hoggish speculation, it is no wonder these G-adarenes wished 
to get rid of so unprofitable a visiter as the Divine Saviour. 

This singular miracle appears to me designed to show the 
Jews, in the sad condition of the swine, the national destruc- 
tion their growling and cruel selfishness were bringing them 
to ; that the evil spirits that had degraded the Grentile world, 
which are represented by Legion, would be cast out, and en- 
tering into the Jews, would complete their ruin ; and the G-en- 
tiles would come and take away their place and nation. I be- 
lieve in this remarkable circumstance that was recorded for 
our instruction; and while it excites the sceptical smile in 
these sanguine latitudinarians, it allegorically describes their 
unhappy state and condition. And it is certainly an awful 
consideration that if they continue obstinately to follow this 
selfish, swinish speculation, that however glossed over with all 
the subtlety of the serpent, it will be likely to lead down a 
steep place into thatlake where they will eventually be choked. 
No marvel that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ should 
be so unpleasant to them that they seem to carefully avoid it, 
if not, like the G-adarenes, beseech it to depart out of their 
coast. No marvel that too many of them should seem to pre- 
fer the sceptical philosophy of Thomas Paine to the precepts 



296 

of Jesus ; and even publicly declare that it was as good as the 
scriptures. This cold, withering spirit, which was described 
by the Lord's prophet under the figure of the east wind, com- 
menced its blasting influence on this continent, with what are 
called the New Lights in New England, and extending west as 
far as Friends were settled, formed something like a conspira- 
cy against the doctrine and discipline of Society ; but the 
chain that was stretched to so great a length broke by its own 
weight, and its disconnected links are now hanging as dead 
weights on the skirts of the several Yearly Meetings, and 
wherever they have spliced on with modern abolitionism and 
temperance, they are causing considerable unsettlement • for 
while they are in the leopard state, to be still seems impossi- 
ble J and hence their fondness for preaching — following popu- 
lar preachers from meeting to meeting, and by puffing them 
up with flattery and smooth tales, they assist the devil in 
placing them upon the pinnacle of the temple, from which 
too many popular but sanguine preachers have fallen — dis- 
gracefully fallen — while they presumptuously expected that 
the very angels of heaven would bear them up. 

There must be a cause for this direful effect; and having 
been led to the subject unexpectedly, I feel more than a free- 
dom to give some views, touching the ministry, that I think have 
been given to me from the right source. The requisite quali- 
fications for preaching the gospel of Christ are the same that 
they ever were, and are most admirably described in the se- 
cond chapter of the Acts of the Apostles. The subjects for 
this great work must first be gathered together in Christ's 
name, which is Ms power ; and then, agreeably to his promise, 
where two or three are gathered together in ray name, there 
am 1 in the midst of them, will be fulfilled. They must be of 
one accord, that is, they must be in perfect unity. Then the 
following appropriate figure describes the exercise of the soul 
on which the gift of gospel ministry is bestowed : 1st. " And 
there was a great sound, as the rushing of a mighty wind." 
The nervous system, the exquisite connection of soul and body, 
is first affected; and such is its irritability, that the whole 
body shakes, sometimes to a degree bordering on convulsions; 
and too often, for the want of getting into the child like state 
of resignation, ends in fanatical derangement. 2dly. '' And 
there appeared to them cloven tongues, like as of fire, and sat 



297 

upon each of them/' This figure is peculiarly appropriate; 
for the light and power of Eternal Truth, which may be com- 
pared to the sun when it shines in the soul, giving the know- 
ledge of the glory of Grod in the spiritual appearance of Jesus 
Christ, that faculty of the soul called reason is enlightened, and 
shines forth like the moon, a glorious but subordinate lumi- 
nary. But having been so long the distinguished agent of self, 
(the strongest law of the unregenerate man,) reason yields with 
great reluctance its independence, and the disparity between 
reason and revelation divides them into two parts, and hence 
the gift of the ministry in this mixed state is called a cloven 
tongue as of fire ; and while reason continues its separate stand- 
ing, and refuses to be entirely influenced by the Divine light, 
being ever fertile in invention, it produces that astonishing va- 
riety of speculative opinion in the Christian church ; and 
though such preachers may continue to preach with the tongue 
of men and angels, for the want of celestial charity, it will 
end in sounding brass or tinkling cymbals. Thirdly and last- 
ly : "And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost; then 
spake they with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utter- 
ance." Mark ! they now spoke with other tongues (not cloven) 
as the Spirit gave them utterance. Here was the everlasting 
gospel of Christ preached in its blessed simplicity and purity, 
that reached the witness in those devout people that were 
then in Jerusalem from the surrounding nations. Those pre- 
cious visited children of Grod that had been born of the Spirit, 
were now spoken to in a language they understood ; not an 
unknown tongue, but their own tongue, in which they were 
born. Such was the preaching of the first disciples of Jesus 
Christ, from the day of Pentecost, which shook the foundations 
of the Jewish hierarchy ; and such I believe, in a good degree, 
was the preaching of the first Quakers, when they shook the 
foundations of the church of Anti-Christ in England to the very 
centre. 

The devout people, that Luke tells us were then in Jerusa- 
lem, providentially drawn there from all nations under heaven, 
appear to me to have been the representatives of those several 
nations that the disciples were commanded to go and teach, 
baptizing them into the name of the Father, Son and Holy 
Ghostj which commandment was obeyed, and the end and de- 
sign of the Saviour fulfilled on that ever memorable day of 



298 

Pentecost, when three thousand were converted to Christianity. ' 
This stupendous act superceded the necessity of the disciples 
travelling further than their Divine Master. And moreover it 
appears clear to me that had those representatives of the various 
nations of the earth that were thus miraculously introduced into 
the gospel dispensation, returned to their several places, keeping 
their eyes single to the pattern of everlasting righteousness placed 
before them on the holy mount, they would have shone as stars 
in the firmament of G-od's power, and their several lights 
within their several orbits would have properly enlightened the 
whole world of mankind with the pure gospel of Jesus 
Christ, agreeably to the heavenly plan of Infinite Wisdom, as 
expressed by the prophet Isaiah in this beautiful and appro- 
priate language ; '^ And it shall come to pass in the last days 
that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in 
the top of the mountains and exalted above the hills, and all 
nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and 
say, Come ye, and let us go up unto the mountain of the 
Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, and he will teach us 
of his ways, and we will walk in his paths ; for out of Zion 
shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusa- 
lem. And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke 
many people; and they shall beat their swords into plough- 
shares, and their spears into pruning hooks ; nation shall not 
lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any 
more/' 

But it appears to me that this most glorious work of the 
Almighty to restore a fallen world, by the establishment of 
peace on earth and good will to man, was marred or frustrated 
by some cause or other ; and what cause can we more reasonably 
suspect than that which showed itself amongst the first disci- 
ples : " Have I not chosen you twelve, and one of you is a 
devil?" This devil that influenced Judas to associate with the 
priests and their satellites, Christ's greatest enemies, and finally 
sell his master for money, may have worked more subtilly, but 
too efl"ectually, on the weaknesses and prejudices of those sons 
of the morning, who being Jews, were so strongly attached to 
the rituals of the law as to introduce circumcision and water bap- 
tism among those Christian converts, which became a bone of 
contention and kept alive the spirit of war. Add to this the 
strong prejudice in favor of missionary travelling, then in 



299 

great estimation among the apostate and forsaken Jews, and 
although condemned by Christ in this most powerful language, 
" Wo unto you. Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites ! For you 
compass sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he is 
made, you make him twofold more the child of hell/' Yet 
some of the disciples appear to have embarked in the mission- 
ary travelling far beyond the jurisdiction embraced in the 
example of their Divine Master, and although they may have 
made a hundred converts where their Master made one, it does 
not appear that the true joy or interest of the church was in- 
creased. 

For alas ! the successors of the apostles preferred preaching 
with cloven tongues, as it was more pleasing to itching ears, 
which soon degenerated into wind, and became, like Ephraim, 
a cake not turned. A ministry that commenced in the mix- 
ture, led into the apostacy, robbed the church of its perquisites, 
its liberty and its life ; and from generation to generation its 
footstep has been marked with darkness and blood, down to the 
present day, when it is followed by flatterers and fools, sung 
to by silly women, (male and female,) fed by witchesfwi'th calf 
on its way to Mount Gilboah, stimulated by the genius of in- 
temperance with the sly behind-the-door beverage of a little hot 
toddy, a little brandy and sugar, a little egg and wine, — and 
worst, and worse than all, and most to be deplored as popular 
preachers' foulest blot, the snug little opium pill, slipped into 
one corner of the mouth under cover of the handkerchief, while 
entering the pulpit, or even the Quaker gallery, where I have 
heard with my own ears, to my after mortification and sorrow, 
an extemporaneous effusion of eloquence peculiarly calculated 
to captivate the ear and bring tears from the eyes of poor, weak, 
silly, sanguine people. Is not this something like the abomi- 
nation of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing 
where it ought not, in the most holy place ? And if the 
condition contained in the text is the unchangeable truth, that 
&elf must be denied, what must be the ultimate end of such 
ministers as take Christ's jewels and deck and adorn their cursed 
self ? Is it not to be feared that they will have their portion 
with hypocrites and unbelievers, and go out of the world with- 
out God, without hope, and without one comfortable assurance 
from the sacred ransom of a dying Saviour. Will it not be in 
vain for these to plead before the judgment seat of quick and 



300 

dead, — Have we not prophesied in thy name, and in thy name 
have we not cast out devils, and in thy name done many won- 
derful works? Will not the answer be — Depart from me, 
ye workers of iniquity, into everlasting fire prepared for the 
devil and his angels. Oh ! that I could sound the alarm in the 
ears of all such preachers in Christendom, that they might be 
brought to see their state and condition before it is too late. 
Oh ! that the millions of blind sanguine professors, that are led by 
these blind guides, could be saved by an omnipresent Saviour 
from that ditch or gulph into which they are led. Such, I fear, 
are the priests and such are the people that compose the mass 
of the professors of the religion of Jesus in gentile Christendom. 
Would not the Lord's holy prophet Jeremiah, were he now a 
divinely anointed minister ofthe everlasting gospel, take up the 
lamentation when he mourned over apostate Israel — ^' A wonder- 
ful and horrible thing is committed in the land; the prophets 
prophesy falsely, and the priests rule by their means, and my 
people love to have it so ; and what will ye do in the end 
thereof?" 

I turn from this sorrowful side of my subject to considera- 
tions more encouraging; to things that accompany salvation, 
though I have thus spoken : for the truth remains to be truth, 
though all men forsake it ; therefore let God be true, if every 
man is a liar ; for his foundation for ever stands sure ; having 
this seal, the Lord knows who are his. Therefore let sanguine 
men and women be encouraged, and lift up their heads in 
hope, for their salvation will draw nigh just in proportion as 
they are humble and obedient : for there is no constitutional 
character among mankind on which sorrow and trouble has a 
better effect through the sanctifying influence of the Spirit of 
Truth. Is there then within the audience of my voice, a dear 
brother whose debts and difficulties are so great that he is 
ready to sink into the quicksands of despair ? Is there one 
whose sleepless pillow has been a witness to many a mournful 
sigh, while the anticipated sufferings of a beloved wife, and 
consequent separation from precious children, rend his soul 
with anguish, and makes even life itself a burthen ? I have a 
word of encouragement for such, from heartfelt experience 
having been in the same state ; and like one formerly, when 
in the street called Strait, I fervently prayed, not that I might 
be relieved from suffering, for I was suffering the due reward 



301 

of my deeds, but that the cause of the blessed Saviour, that I had 
espoused, might not suffer and be reviled through my disobe- 
dience to the heavenly vision. And when I was brought to 
the depth of humility, and could thankfully adore the chasten- 
ing hand, it was made bare for my deliverance, and the good 
Ananias was sent to remove the scales from my eyes, and show 
me a way, where there appeared no way. Thus my feet were 
plucked, as it were, out of a horrible pit, and placed upon a 
rock, where I have sung the praises of Redeeming Love on the 
banks of deliverance. 

And here permit me to say, that it has been a source of un- 
easiness to my mind, when I see religious young men, especi- 
ally such as believe they are called to the work of the ministry, 
branching out into business so extensively as to be under the 
necessity of borrowing money. Oh ! that such could read with 
a seriousness and instruction proportionable to its value, the 
advice given by Paul to his son Timothy, when warning him 
of the danger of the greatest evil in the Christian church — the 
love of money. ^^ But thou, man of G-od, flee those things, 
and continue to follow after righteousness, :*godliness, faith, 
love, patience, meekness. For we brought nothing into this 
world, and it is certain we can take nothing out ; and having 
food and raiment, let us be therewith content. ^^ The poor 
sanguine minister that neglects to attend to this apostolic ad- 
vice, and goes on borrowing money of usurers till he sells his 
Christian liberty to money-mongers, is really to be pitied ; 
for should they, by the most assiduous attention to business, 
succeed in meeting all their contracts, and at last extricate 
themselves from the fangs of the usurer with that honor that 
is so highly esteemed among men, it is often at the expense of 
some of the finer feelings of an enlightened and quickened 
soul, and the establishing of a habit of money-making and 
money-loving, which if it does not drown the man in perdition 
and destruction, it too often eclipses the glory of that star-like 
radiance that was to shine forever in the firmament of God's 
power. Therefore, dear sanguine children, young men and 
young women, that have just come upon the stage of active 
life, let me conjure you by all that is sacred, and by all that 
is dear, for Grod's sake, for your own soul's sake, for the sake 
of the cause of everlasting righteousness, submit to the condi- 
tions contained in the text — deny self, and take up the daily 

26 



302 

cross ; then your life and conversation and all things may he 
like that blessed pattern shown you on the holy mount j for 
when the infinitely wise Jehovah was pleased to manifest him- 
self in the fulness, and present to a world of intelligent beings 
a perfect pattern of everlasting righteousness, in the glorious 
appearance of his beloved son Jesus Christ, that blessed pat- 
tern was found walking in the path of humble industry — 
showing with indubitable clearness that the path of humble 
industry will not only lead to the enjoyment of rational happi- 
ness in this world, but everlasting happiness in the world to 
come. If you have true Christian humility, your wants will 
be so few, that your industry will more than supply them, and 
you will be prepared to minister to the necessities of the poor 
that are hungry, or thirsty, or naked, or sick, or in prison, or 
strangers, and should these be the least of the brethren of 
Jesus Christ, as beautifully alluded to in that inimitable para- 
ble, you will be prepared to receive that blessed sentence ; 
^^ Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared 
for you from the foundation of the world/^ 

I will now close this part of my subject, by a concise view 
of a penitent prodigal^ who appears to have been of a very 
sanguine constitution, in hopes it will be an encouragement to 
some dear children that have left their heavenly Father's 
house, and in a far country spent their portion of the unsearch- 
able riches of Christ, that was graciously given to them in the 
visitation of their youth, and are now endeavoring to satisfy 
the cravings of their immortal spirit with spiritless husks and 
shells of sensual enjoyment, which they find to be vanity and 
vexation of spirit ; and while they cast many a mournful look 
towards their Father's house, they are ready to say — How 
many hired servants are there in my father's house, that have 
bread enough and to spare, while I am here perishing with 
hunger. To encourage these to arise and go unto their Father, 
who is undoubtedly disposed to meet them though they may 
be a great way ofi*, I will place before them an interesting ex- 
ample, in the young man alluded to. He was the son of a 
humble dedicated minister of Jesus Christ, and had received a 
guarded religious education, that had made deep impression 
on his youthful mind. During his apprenticeship in a popu- 
lous city, he strayed far away from the fold of Christ, partici- 
pating in almost every species of folly and wickedness. But 



303 

about the twenty-first year of his age, lie was renewedly visited 
with, the dayspring from on high, and it was moreover shown 
to him that this would be the last visitation he would ever 
receive ; but trying to persuade himself it was all a delusion, 
he was determined to join his bottle companions and drink it 
off, or disown his solemn convictions. But, on his way to join 
his company, he had to pass the meeting-house, where he had 
heard his father preach the glad tidings of the everlasting gos- 
pel to penitent sinners. Such was the deeply exercised state 
of his mind, that he thought he saw over the door of the house, 
in large letters of gold, the language addressed to the apostle 
Paul. This appears to have been conclusive with him, for he 
gave up to what appeared to be a heavenly vision, and consult- 
ed no longer with flesh and blood, having the Son of Grod 
again revealed in him. Like Paul, he was constrained to 
preach to others, and for their encouragement tell them what 
God had done for his soul ; thus he became one of the most 
dignified ministers of Jesus Christ of his day. In his last 
sickness, some of his friends called to see him on their way to 
attend the Yearly Meeting, to whom he addressed himself as 
follows : "I should be willing that the Yearly Meeting, might 
be informed, that as I have lived, so I shall close, with the 
most unshaken assurance that we have not followed cunningly 
devised fables, but pure, living, and eternal substance ; and if I 
am to be removed now from the church militant, where I have 
endeavored in some degree to fill up my duty, I have an un- 
doubted evidence that I shall be received into the church tri- 
umphant in heaven.^^ And his last expression was — " my 
dear love is to all them that love the Lord Jesus. ^^ His bio- 
grapher (though not a member of the same Society) closes with 
these expressions : '' Such was his exemplary life, and such 
was his triumphant death; a life so spent is truly honorable, 
and such a death unspeakably glorious.^^ 

Dear sanguine young men, that are now spending your pre- 
cious talents in riotous living — talents that are almost angelic 
in their nature, and have been given you to make you greatly 
good — will you not be encouraged to return to your heavenly 
Father's house, where a Saviour stands graciously disposed to 
receive you, and clothe you with the best robe of his right- 
eousness, and qualify you to gather his scattered and dispersed 
sheep, from the east and from the west, from the north and 



304 

from the south, to the one great Shepherd and Bishop of souls. 
My dear elderly friends of a sanguine constitution, let us not 
be discouraged in a retrospective view of what is past; for 
Jesus Christ, our blessed Saviour, that has come spiritually a 
second time without sin unto salvation, is a propitiation for our 
sins ; and not for ours only, but for the sins of the whole 
world of rational beings, provided the sorrow for sin is a godly 
sorrow, that worketh repentance not to be repented of, as in the 
case of the apostle Peter, who, when he saw his sins to be ex- 
ceeding sinful, wept bitterly — 

<'When the cock crew, he wept — smote by that eye 
That looks on me, on all— that power that bids 
The midnight sentinel, with clarion shrill, 
Emblem of that that shall awake the dead, 
Call souls from slumber into thoughts of heaven." 

It appears that Peter indulged so much in pride and specu- 
lation, as to be in the spirit of the devil ; and hence his Mas- 
ter's severe reproof, "Get thee behind me, Satan; for thou art 
an offence unto me, for thou savourest not the things that are 
of God, but the things that are of men." Dear Peter, not- 
withstanding he had the inestimable privilege of the personal 
presence and precepts of the Saviour of the world, he showed 
in strong colors the besetting sin of poor sanguine mortals, who 
promise much and perform little — assent to the blessed truth, 
and then depart from it in the first gust of impetuous passion. 
'' Though all men forsake thee, yet will I never forsake thee ; 
though all men deny thee, yet will I never deny thee ; I will 
follow thee to prison and to death ; I will lay down my life for 
thy sake.^^ This last promise Peter was certainly disposed to 
fulfil; for, when the enemy appeared, he asked permission to 
smite with the sword ; but his leopard nature made him so im- 
patient, that he could not wait for permission, but, under the 
influence of impetuous passion, smote one of the servants of the 
high priest, and cut off his right ear ; and although the act 
was in direct opposition to the commandment that Peter had 
received from his divine Master, to love his enemies, and not 
to smite even when he was smitten, yet the gentleness of the 
reproof seems to show that it was Peter's least failing. "Suf- 
fer it thus far," said the merciful Saviour, and he put forth his 
finger and healed the wound of his greatest enemy. Then 



305 

turning to Peter, lie said : "Put up tliy sword, for tkey tkat 
take the sword shall perish bv the sword" — a prophetic decla- 
i-ation that has been verified and will be fulfilled, in individual 
experience, families, societies, communities, nations, empires 
and kingdoms. I said this warlike act of Peter's appeared to 
be the least of his failings, for there was something noble, gen- 
erous and brave in his defending his master, whom he so dear- 
ly loved ; for the Saviour says — Greater love hath no man than 
this, that he lay down his life for his friend. The man that 
has arrived at such a state of disinterested friendship, as to 
sacrifice his own life to save his friend and fellow-citizen, is 
the first of patriots ; and although it is not the Christian state, 
it is certainly one of the best stocks that Christianity was ever 
engrafted into. And hence Peter, who appears to have been 
the only warrior among the disciples, is styled the Prince of the 
Apostles, Now it appears to me that all those great and good 
men that we read of, who professed to be Christians, and yet 
have drawn the sword to smite their enemies, either in de- 
fence of their own persons, their property, or their friends, 
the rights and liberties of their country, or their religion ; 
they are at best no further on their way to the Christian state 
than Peter was when he drew his sword to defend his Divine 
Master. And may we not reasonably conclude from the sa- 
cred record, that Peter was not only not in a Christian state, 
but too soon lost the nobility of the patriot and the man. And 
the cause for this additional weakness, if not wickedness, ap- 
pears to be his associating with the servants and satellites of 
the priests ; for he continued to follow on after Jesus, but he 
got into bad company ; and what appears to have made bad 
worse, the priests' party made a fire to warm themselves, and 
Peter stood with them and warmed himself; and after getting 
warm by the priests' fire, this courageous warrior became so 
cowardly, mean and wicked, that the inquisitive look of a ser- 
vant girl set him to quibbling and evading the truth; and being 
closely questioned by the enemy, he not only told a positive 
lie, but cursed and swore that he knew not the man. But 
when the cock crew, the Savioui" turned and looked upon Peter, 
not with anger, nor yet with a frown of contempt, but with a 
look of sorrow and love that so afiected the confused and 
wretched heart of Peter, that he was broken into self-abase- 
ment and contrition, and he went out and wept bitterly. 
26* 



S06 

My dear sanguine friends, is there not the greatest instruc- 
tion and encouragement in this remarkable circumstance ? In- 
struction, by showing the cause why so many great and good 
men, that once appeared as spotless patriots and distinguished 
advocates for the rights of man, should at last become the as- 
sassins of Christian liberty ; encouragement, by showing us 
that God our Creator, in the blessed appearance of Jesus 
Christ our Lord, is no angry God, neither is he clothed with 
vindictive justice; neither is there wrath in heaven that re- 
fuses to be appeased by heartfelt sorrow and repentance. But 
God is love, and they that dwell in love, dwell in God, and 
God in them. The dispensation of the gospel of Jesus Christ 
is all mercy and goodness, and they that come to it and dwell 
under its influence will love their enemies, do good and lend^ 
hoping for nothing again; such are the true children of God, 
and if children, then heirs — heirs of God and joint heirs with 
Christ. These can never smite with the carnal sword, neither 
can they lie or swear ; for they are all taught of the Lord, and 
in righteousness and peace shall they be established for ever. 
This state Peter came to on the day of Pentecost, and was 
made a Christian by receiving Christ in his spiritual appear- 
ance, without sin, unto salvation ; and thus he was anointed 
and appointed on that memorable day, to preach the everlast- 
ing gospel, not in the enticing words of man's wisdom, as his 
sermon plainly shows, but in the demonstration of the Spirit 
and with power; for he was now changed from a bloody warrior 
to a Christian, from a leopard to a kid; and, self being de- 
nied, he had become a soldier of the cross, and was following 
the captain of his salvation — being willing to spend and be 
spent. And such was the humility and self-abasement of his 
soul, when he was condemned to be crucified — thinking him- 
self unworthy to suffer like his Divine Master — he is said to 
have requested to be »crucified with his head downward. 

In this remarkable and interesting history of the apostle 
Peter, we are shown what a sincere heartfelt belief in Jesus 
Christ will do for one of the most sanguine of mankind, and 
notwithstanding all their restless eccentricity, what a state of 
perfection they are capable of coming to. Peter's name is not 
only gloriously enrolled on the records of eternity, but as the 
prince of the apostles is beloved and revered by millions of in- 
telligent beings. 



307 

I now come to a third class of mankind^ called Phlegmatic^ 
in whose animal body the element of water predominates. 
This element is cold and unfeeling, but powerful by its great 
weight and influence upon the other elements ; and when put 
in motion by the laws of gravitation, or agitated by air or fire, 
its strength is irresistible. Hence the Lord's prophet, in de- 
scribing these in their unregenerate state, brings forward in 
poetical figure two of the larger and more powerful animals : 
'' And the cow and the bear shall feed, their young shall lie 
down together/' Men and women of this class, while under 
the influence of their beastly natures, are not only cold and un- 
feeling, but dull and inert ; but when agitated by some of 
the stronger passions, they are too often powerful, cruel and 
voracious, and therefore more like the bear than any other ani- 
mal. For the bear is a dull, sluggish, inert creature, and ap- 
pears more peaceable and contented than most of the carnivo- 
rous tribe, and will seldom if ever prey upon other animals, if 
they can find plenty of nuts, fruit, grain, or even roots ; they 
will then, especially in autumn, become very fat, and retire to 
their den, curl themselves up in their bed of leaves, and live 
by sleeping and sucking their paws. In this quiet retreat, they 
may appear inofi"ensive and entirely harmless; but wo unto 
th« man or beast that would presume to take away one of the 
leaves that compose their bed, or even disturb their repose ; 
they would soon show their carnivorous teeth, and if within 
their reach, they might feel the weight of their tremendous 
paws, or be crushed in their powerful hug. 

Could the prophet have found in the whole chain of carni- 
vorous animals, one link that would so completely describe a 
phlegmatic worldly-minded man, wholly intent on the acquisi- 
tion of wealth ? One who adopts for his motto the Dutch pro- 
verb, " My son, get money; get it honestly if you can, but be 
sure to get it." One that pursues this object with an eye that 
never winks, and a wing that never tires ; if he can get money 
fast enough, and by the regular routine of business and a legal 
six per cent., may be apparently satisfied; but if trade should 
be dull, and the regular course of business obstructed, attend- 
ed with s(ftne loss of property, he will have recourse to shaving 
some poor, weak, straitened brother's notes or paper, and then 
adding their shavings to his bonds and mortgages, he will 
have a comfortable dry bed to retire to ; and having grown fat 



308 

like the bear, he can sleep securely, and while sucking the 
paws that have done such great things, can adopt the language 
of one formerly : " Soul, thou hast much goods laid up in 
store for many years; take thy ease, eat, drink, and be merry." 
But if God should say to such a man as this, as he did in the 
parable, "Thou fool, this night shall thy soul be required of 
thee,'' then whose would all these shavings and dry leaves be? 
what relief could they afford ? 

<' The frantic soul 
Raves round the walls of her clay tenement ; 
Runs to each avenue, and shrieks for help; * 
But shrieks in vain. How wishfully she looks 
On all she's leaving, now no lon;^er her's ! 
A little longer, yet a little longer, 
Oh ! mii!;htshe stay to wash away her stains. 
And fit her for her passage ! Mournful sight ! 
Her very eyes weep bloody and every groan 
She heaves, is big with horror. But the foe, 
Like a stanch murderer, steady to his purpose, 
Pursues her close through every lane of life. 
Nor misses once the track ; but presses on. 
Till, forced at last to the tremendous verge, 
At once she sinks to everlasting ruin." 

For the rich man also died, and was buried ; and in hell he 
lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and seeth Abraham afar off, 
and Lazarus in his bosom ; and he cried, " Father Abraham, 
have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip 
of his finger in water, and cool my tongue, for I am tormented in 
this flame." Ah, my dear friends, what will be the difference 
in the eternal world between such rich men and their poor 
debtors, that have been brought, Lazarus-like, to their gates, 
full of sores, occasioned perhaps by being squeezed too hard in 
dealing with something like a grizzly bear, while their only 
crime may have been they could not add sufficiently to the su- 
perabundance of his dry bed, by paying up their interest or 
rent. In vain did the poor Lazarus desire a crumb of mercy; 
the dogs were only permitted to lick his sores. But it came to 
pass that the beggar died, and was carried by angels into 
Abraham's bosom. Oh! that I could persuade professing Chris- 
tians to return to those first, glorious, and heavenly fTrinciples, 
that so adorned the infant and innocent state of the primitive 
church — sympathy and feeling for suffering humanity — which 
laid the foundation for true Christian discipline ; which made 



309 

provision for the poor saints ; — when ministers of the gospel 
were conscientiously concerned to maintain themselves and 
families by the labour of their own hands, and could appeal to 
the elders of the church in a language like this : ^' I have covet- 
ed no man's silver or gold,^ or apparel; yea, ye yourselves know 
that these hands have ministered to my necessities, and to them 
that were with me : and I have shown you, that so labouring ye 
ought to support the weak, remembering that it is more blessed 
to give than to receive/' Such was the precept and example 
of the first Christian ministers, and such was their sympathy 
for suflFering humanity in the household of faith, that they beg- 
ged the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table, not to 
clothe themselves in purple and fine linen, and fare sumptu- 
ously every day, but to relieve the poor Lazarus that lay with- 
in their own gates, full of sores. Oh ! that I could persuade the 
Society of Friends to return to their first principles, that Chris- 
tian benevolence that shone so conspicuously among them for 
the first half century, when poor Friends' necessities were duly 
inspected, and they relieved, and assisted in such business as 
they were capable of. They would then cease their running in 
the ways of the G-entiles, and joining those extraneous specula- 
tions, so popular in the cities of the Samaritans, for they would 
then find the lost sheep of the house of Israel ; or, to speak in 
plainer terms, they would no longer spend that time and money 
on Indians, a people that do not even profess to be Christians, 
that ought to be appropriated to save their own poor members 
from sinking into the quicksands of despair. How manv 
Friends that might have been ornaments to Society have sunk 
and are sinking for the want of that relief that our early 
Friends were the most prompt in affording. How many have 
had to give up to their creditors, and are either disowned or 
under dealing for partial assignments, when it was occasioned 
perhaps by a cold unfeeling creditor, that had let in the sus- 
picion that he would lose his money if it were not immediately 
secured, and therefore had presented himself before his poor 
debtor in all the terrific appearance of a grizzly bear, demanding 
security by judgment bond or partial assignment; the poor 
man, who has now become like a striken deer, or a poor chased 
and starved heifer, without strength or spirit to resist, complies 
with the unjust demand, by which other creditors are excluded, 
and he must be excommunicated at a time when of all other 



310 

times lie stands most in need of friends and assistance ; while 
the triumphant creditor, like the fat bear, retires quietly to his 
den, with the commendations of society for being wiser in his 
generation than the children of light. My soul feels for these 
poor Lazaruses that are full of sores and discouragements, too 
many of whom I fear are attempting to drown their sorrows in 
the gulf of intemperance. Others, under a consideration of 
hard treatment from those they once thought their Christian 
friends, have let in hardness of heart and difficulty of under- 
standing, and are descending the dark turbulent stream of doubt 
which too often ends in the ocean of scepticism and infidelity. 
Many of these might be saved to sing the praises of redeeming 
love on the banks of deliverance, had they only a little timely 
advice and assistance. But, alas, alas! that Christian sympathy 
and tenderness, that was once the crown and diadem of the 
religious Society of Friends, the radiance of whose glorious 
light caused even their enemies to exclaim — See these Quakers, 
how they love one another — seems now rapidly transforming in- 
to the speculative popular mania that characterizes the deluded 
votaries of Anti-christ, in compassing sea and land to make 
proselytes. This philanthropic gambling has been placed be- 
fore the public in rather a ludicrous point of view by an in- 
genious American writer, one of whose figures, if I recollect 
right, was something like this : 

" I was sitting in my study, when my reverie was broken 
by a confident rap at the door, and the entrance of a respecta- 
ble looking elderly woman, with a book in her hand, who thus 
addressed me : ^ I have come, sir, to request you to subscribe 
to a mission to the Hottentots.^ I answered — '■ Why do you 
go so far from home to exercise your charity? Can't you be- 
stow it upon the poor colored people in this city, who, in 
many places, are as ignorant and wretched as the Hottentots 
can be : and if you must go from home, why go further than 
the poor slaves at the south V — when she gave me this con- 
clusive answer : ^ La^ sir, nobody thinks of things so near 
home, and besides, the Missionary Magazine never mentions 
them ;' so I subscribed and paid my money, in hopes of get- 
ting my name in the Missionary Magazine.'^ 

Would it not be a sorrowful consideration if this ingenious 
satire should apply to the Society of Friends in their Indian 
and African concerns ? Oh ! that I could persuade them that 



311 

wliile they profess to be the Israel of God^ or the Lord^s cho- 
sen people under the gospel dispensation, that they wonld 
obey that imperative and positive commandment given by the 
infinitely wise Jehovah to his people Israel — " If thy brother 
be waxen poor, and fallen into decay with thee, then thou shalt 
relieve him ; take thou no usury of him, nor increase, but fear 
thy God, that thy brother may live with thee. Thou shalt 
not give him thy money upon usury, nor lend him thy vic- 
tuals for increase. If thou lend money to any of my people 
that are poor by thee, thou shalt not be unto him as an usu- 
rer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury ; thou shalt not 
lend upon usury to thy brother, usury of money ; for he that 
by usury and unjust gain increases his substance, shall gather 
it for them that will pity the poor. Lord, who shall abide in 
thy tabernacle ? who shall dwell in thy holy hill ? He that 
putteth not out his money to usury — he that hath not given 
forth upon usury, nor taken reward against the innocent. He 
that turneth away his ear from hearing this law, even his 
prayers shall be an abomination. Thou hast taken usury and 
increase, and thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbors by 
extortion, and hath forgotten me, saith the Lord God.^^ These 
are the words of the Lord through the mouths of his prophets 
and faithful servants, embracing the great commandment to 
Israel, touching the subject of usury — a commandment that 
contained a political as well as a moral good to his people; 
and although it was only expressly given to the Jews, the 
light thereof appears to have dawned on the Roman repulDlic ; 
for when a proposition was made to the Roman senate for lay- 
ing a one per cent, usury, it was opposed by the most illus- 
trious senators, particularly by the elder Cato, or Cato the Cen- 
sor, who considered the deleterious effect of usury on the so- 
cial happiness of the people to be equal to taking their lives. 
And had those illustrious American senators, that organized 
the federal compact, taken the same view of usury, and recog- 
nized that great commandment given by Jehovah himself, 
'^Thou shalt not lend thy money upon usury to thy brother,'^ 
our money matters would have been preserved from a vortex 
of confusion to which I fear they are rapidly approaching, and 
thousands of our citizens saved from ruin; for it appears to 
me that usury is the bane of a republic, and the lever of the 
power of aristocracy. How those professors of religion that 



312 

tell lis that the Bible is the word of God, can ever reconcile 
lending their money to their brethren on usury, is a matter of 
difficulty and astonishment to me ; and the difficulty is in- 
creased from the matter of fact recorded in the New Testa- 
ment ; the dear Son and Sent of G-od, instead of abrogat- 
ing this commandment or word of the Lord, recorded in 
the Bible, has gloriously asserted and corroborated it in the 
following clear and powerful testimony : ^^ Give to him that 
asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee 
turn not thou away ; and if ye lend to them of whom ye 
hope to receive, what thanks have ye? For sinners lend 
to sinners to receive as much again. But do good and 
lend, hoping for nothing again, and your reward shall be 
great ; and ye shall be the children of the Highest, for he is 
kind to the thankful and the evil. Be ye therefore merciful 
as your Father is merciful ; ye are my friends, if ye do what- 
soever I command you." How the people called Quakers can 
assume the name of the Friends of Christ upon the unchange- 
able terms He has laid down, is paradoxical to me, while they 
continue to act in direct opposition to one of his positive com- 
mandments, and instead of doing good and lending their mo- 
ney without usury, they are, in too many instances, taking 
an illegal interest from a poor brother, that is falling into 
decay. 

Oh this love of money, if it has not been the root of all, it 
has been and still is the root of much evil in the religious 
Society of Friends, and the cause thereof appears to me to be 
that evil seed of usury that lay snugly preserved in the bosom 
of the landed aristocracy of England, but never vegetated in 
the Society till after the Toleration Act ; then the warming 
influence of the sunshine of worldly prosperity, and the great 
influx of wealth flowing, as a natural consequence, from that 
inexhaustible source — liumility, faithfulness, and industry — 
acted as the summer's showers on the spontaneous productions 
of the earth, causing this evil seed of usury to put forth its 
branches, resplendent with evil fruit ; amongst which, covet- 
ousness and pride shone the most conspicuous, and was high- 
ly esteemed amongst men, but an abomination in the sight of 
Christ, because they were the greatest enemies to his church 
militant on earth. About this time, that is, the latter end of 
the seventeenth and the beginning of the eighteenth century, 
if I am not mistaken, Friends had near seven hundred meet- 



313 

lugs in England, Ireland and Scotland ; but the love of money 
and the lore of the world, the inseparable friends of usury, 
were now insidiously drawing them away from their first great 
principles ; and I think I am safe in saying, their meetings 
declined at the ratio of two meetings a year for the last hun- 
dred and thirty years ; and what appears to have added to the 
rapidity of this retrograde movement, they were losing their 
faith in Christ as an omnipresent Saviour, and putting their 
dependence in the arm of flesh; hence, their attachment to 
those beautiful idols of a fallen world — wealth, poioer and scho- 
lastic education — the wonderful machinery by which the de- 
luded votaries of anti-Christ vainly expect to establish the 
kingdom of heaven throughout the whole earth. I am aware 
that some of my best friends may be ready to conclude, that 
on the subject of usury I have certainly got wrong, and my 
enemies will be disposed to laugh me to scorn as a fanatic ; but 
I shall comfort myself with the fact, that I have the unity of 
some of the brightest stars that ever shone in the old and new 
world of mind, with the testimony of Grod, who is judge of all, 
before whose righteous tribunal I may now leave the subject of 
usury to be settled. 

As members of civil society, phlegmatic people, even in 
their unregenerate state, have the advantage of the other three ; 
for they may, with some degree of propriety, be called the 
very sinews of the state. Their steady, persevering, plodding 
industry, in the pursuit of wealth, almost invariably puts them 
in possession of the object of their pursuit, and then their 
superior systematic judgment and pre-science enables them to 
make the best of their money and property ; hence, they stand 
pre-eminent as farmers, merchants, and business men; and 
even in the arts and sciences they certainly may claim some 
degree of superiority, for the most of the useful discoveries 
and inventions were first found out by phlegmatic men; and 
hence G-ermany has been considered the most fertile in useful 
works. But in no case do they become substantially useful 
till they experience something of the change embraced in the 
prophet's figure; for the cow and the bear must feed, their 
young ones must lie down together ; the wild carnivorous na- 
ture of the bear must be changed and become like the tame, 
ruminating nature of the cow; and although self may not be 
entirely denied, and they may be too much like the dry, fat 

27 



314 

cow that keeps her substance within herself, yet with more 
than the strength and power of the bear, they chew the cud 
and divide the hoof; this is often the source of stupendous 
works as well as great and useful inventions. But it is when 
self is entirely denied, and the daily cross taken up, that phleg- 
matic men, that are rich, witness a thorough change from a 
state like that of the cold, cruel, selfish bear, to that like the 
noble, generous cow, with her distended udder quietly solicit- 
ing the hand of the lovely milk-maid to draw forth the rich 
nutritious stream that is to feed the helpless, hungry children 
of men. Such men, wherever their lot may be cast, or what- 
ever their profession to religion may be, are a blessing to the 
city or country where they live, and an honor to the society to 
which they belong. Permit me to corroborate this position 
by the strongest of evidence, matters of fact, two of which I 
am a living witness of. I knew a poor minister, near twenty 
years ago, that, by imprudence and want of capacity, was 
brought into serious difficulties, for he had quit a business that 
he understood, and for which the Author of Nature had pecu- 
liarly qualified him, because he then thought it was inconsist- 
ent with his profession, and undertook a business he did not 
understand, by which he was brought to the eve of bankrupt- 
cy. Aware of his embarrassment, he exerted himself by work- 
ing with his own hands, day and night, till his health was 
broken, and the symptoms of a pulmonary consumption caused 
him to look with sorrow and discouragement on a beloved wife 
and little family of children that in all probability must soon 
be left destitute, to be fed by the hand of charity, or coldly 
provided for by friends. Winter was fast approaching, and 
many things were wanting to make his little family comforta- 
ble, for which he had not the means. In this street called 
Strait, after spending some sleepless nights and discouraging 
days, like one formerly, in the depth of humility, he prayed 
to his blessed Saviour, who stilled the rolling of the tempestu- 
ous billows, and there was a calm, where heavenly hope be- 
came an anchor to the soul. A few days after this exercise, 
his neighbor, the postmaster, told him there was a letter for 
him in the post-office. When he got the letter, he directly 
discovered that the superscription and post-mark were entirely 
new ', but what was his surprise on opening it, to find two fifty 
dollar bank notes, from a wealthy merchant with whom he 



815 

had but little acquaintance, who stated in his letter that he 
had been led recently to feel sympathy and tenderness for the 
poor man, and in contrasting his superabundance with a Chris- 
tian brother's real wants, he felt it his duty to send that little 
present, and to inform him further not to suffer himself to be 
improperly discouraged for the want of any little pecuniary 
assistance — that he was at liberty, at any such time to draw 
on him. 

This was one of those noble, benevolent men, that, like 
the generous cow, is a supporter and nourisher of the weak 
and helpless part of the human family ; of such a man, a 
member of your own Quarter, I could relate something simi- 
lar, were it not for reasons ingeniously expressed by the poet, 
that — 

" Praise from a friend, or censure from a foe, 
Is lost on hearers who their merits know." 

Another remarkable case of the kind took place lately in 
one of our commercial cities. A valuable tradesman was so 
led astray by the sceptical notions of a popular woman, as to 
open his shop on what is called the Christian sabbath. The 
civil authorities of course interposed, by first soliciting him to 
desist from a practice contrary to the laws of the land; his friends 
joined in the remonstrance, but it proved in vain; he was ob- 
stinate and determined. A destructive prosecution ensued, 
which ended in the loss of his property, his business, and his 
friends. In this destitute condition, he had to move into a 
small house in the suburbs of the city, where he soon sunk 
into the quicksands of despair, and his life became such a bur- 
then that he determined to commit suicide ; but feeling a de- 
sire to solicit the attention of some distant friend or relative to- 
wards his helpless family, he went into the city to forward a 
letter, where he was met by one of those angels of mercy, who 
spoke kindly to him, expressing the concern he had felt for him, 
and wished to know what he was doing, and whether he was 
in any business. The wretched man told him all, and that 
he had no hope left. This excellent friend requested him to 
call at his store at four o'clock; he did so, and was asked how 
the corner of such a street would suit him to commence busi- 
ness. '' I have taken that place for thee, and here is a check 
for a thousand dollars." What language possesses force suffi- 



316 

cient adequately to describe the feelings that must have been 
reciproctilly experienced ! What harmony of sounds can set 
forth the exquisite delight? The one must have experienced a 
foretaste of the beatific enjoyment of the ransomed and redeem- 
ed of the Lord, while the other participated in a portion of that 
joy that reigns triumphant among the angels of heaven, over 
one sinner that is saved. 

Bear with me, my dear friends, while 1 add one more noble 
act of those truly great and excellent men. The story I shall 
tell was told to me near twenty years ago by an aged English- 
man. The distinguished Dr. F., of London, in one of his 
nightly visits to the sick, was stopped by a robber, who de- 
manded his money. The doctor, with perfect composure and 
presence of mind, handed his purse — observing, the money was 
of little consequence, but the consideration that a young man 
of such respectable appearance should embark in so dreadful 
an enterprise, that must, eventually end in ruin, so affected 
him that he could not remain silent. The robber immediately 
burst into tears and sobbed almost aloud. The doctor, with his 
usual tender kindness, affectionately took the young man's arm, 
saying, '^ My dear youth, I feel a fatherly affection for thee, 
and wish to know what desperate circumstance has driven thee 
to this act/' As soon as the young man could speak, he told 
the doctor he was a young trader, that had lately started busi- 
ness in the city, and had been persuaded to risk his little capi- 
tal in an East Indian speculation, that was likely to prove his 
ruin, as the vessel had not been heard of 3 and after exhausting 
every honest means to raise money to meet his obligations, the 
dread of being to-morrow shut up in a jail, and his wife and 
child turned into a poor-house, had driven him to that despera- 
tion. The doctor heard him thus far and replied : '< I am Dr. 
F. ; I will never betray thee. Call at my residence to-morrow 
morning, and tell me all that is in thy heart, and whatever sum 
of money thou mayst need, thou canst have.'' They then part- 
ed ; the young man to return to the bosom of his precious lit- 
tle family, for whom he had exposed all that was sacred and 
dear, to give thanks for having been snatched from the vortex 
of ruin by a truly Christian friend and father ; and the doctor 
to his peaceful pillow, to be thankful for having done no more 
than what it was his duty to do, ageeeably to the commandment 
of the Saviour to his disciples : " Make unto yourselves friends 



317 

of the mammon of unrighteousness, that when ye fail they may 
receive you into everlasting habitations.'' I was further in- 
formed that this robber was reclaimed, and lived and died a re- 
spectable and useful citizen, and near his close revealed the se- 
cret of this remarkable story. 

Here were too men that appear to have been saved from 
eternal ruin by the care and generosity of phlegmatic Christians, 
that had denied self and witnessed that change of heart em- 
braced in the prophet's figure. Oh ! what a blessing it would 
be to the rational family, if this class of men and women would 
all become such Christians — they would be as Saviours on 
Mount Sion. But they must be born again — they must be- 
come new creatures ; or at best, they will only be like the dry 
cow, keep all their substance within themselves, till they be- 
come fat and indolent, quietly lying down and chewing the cud, 
perfectly indifferent to the sufferings around them. Such dull, 
inert kind of creatures appear to be entirely innocent and harm- 
less 'j but should some poor hungry being apply to them for re- 
lief, by attempting to milk them, they would soon find them- 
selves in contact with a restive, refractory animal, whose heels or 
horns might seriously injure them. Men and women of this de- 
scription, notwithstanding they may be valuable members of 
civil society, are too often as stumbling blocks in the way of hum-, 
ble enquirers after truth, because they are too often put for- 
ward in religious society as leaders of the people, in conse- 
quence of their wealth and steady habits, instead of Christian 
experience, and consequently are like Ephraim, a cake not turn- 
ed. Hence the appearance of their bearish natures, when the 
township assessor calls on them to value their property and as- 
certain the amount of money at interest. Here too often, I 
fear, like Ananias and Sapphira, they make false statements, and 
lose all the little life of religion they have. When these hid- 
den works of darkness come to be found out, they are a disgrace 
to their country and the religious society to which they belong. 
Wo unto such rich men, for they have received their consola- 
tion — the Saviour says that it is easier for a camel to go 
through the eye of a needle than for such rich men to enter into 
the kingdom of heaven. 

Having shown to what a state of perfection such men and 
women may come by submitting to Christ's baptism, and 
having that cursed selfishness washed away, I will propose a 

27* 



318 

remedy for the diseased state of religious society. Let sucli of 
our precious youth as have been called with a high and holy 
calling, to follow the blessed Saviour of the world, continue to 
press forward to perfection ; carrying out practically the three 
great cardinal principles of Christianity laid down in that me- 
morable sermon on the Mount, embracing a conclusive testimo- 
ny against war, law and usury; they will then mount upwards, 
as on the wingsofcherubims, above all fighting and destroying of 
the lives of men, above all litigation and contention, above all 
money-mongeringand covetousness ; and as God's children they 
will become gentle, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even 
as God for Christ's sake forgives them. Such young men and 
women, when joined in holy wedlock, would fulfil with pro- 
priety all the social and relative duties of life, and, like the 
little robins in the spring time of the year, they would be very 
industrious in collecting the particles or materials necessary to 
make their nest, or little home, for the comfort and accommo- 
dation of their families ; and the law of the spirit of life in 
Christ Jesus would as certainly fix bounds to their desires 
and exertions, as the law of nature fixes bounds to the work 
and service of the robin ', and such children of God would no 
more be permitted to lay up treasure on earth, for their chil- 
dren that may come after them, to purchase a home or nest, 
than the robins would pervert the order of nature by building 
a nest after harvest, for their young ones the ensuing spring j' be- 
cause such a provision would deprive their young ones of one of 
the greatest sources of happiness, the collecting the little par- 
ticles that compose their nest. For it is evident from the 
sweet and beautiful manner of their singing when they are 
thus employed, that they enjoy life more than at any subse- 
quent period of their stay. So, dear young men and women, 
mated together in the divine harmony, humbly and industriously 
exerting themselves to procure a little farm or comfortable 
home, and honestly and honorably paying for it with the labor 
of their own hands, would enjoy more rational happiness than 
in any other earthly situation. And oh that I could persuade 
such Christians, after they had paid for their humble home, 
and found themselves in possession of a few hundred dollars that 
they had no immediate use for, that they would apply to their 
Saviour with a spiritual prayer, like — Oh, thou that com- 
mandest me to do good, and lend, let the light of thy coun- 



319 

tenance go before me to where tliy suffering child is, that 
Thou intendest me to be the humble instrument of relief. Such, 
I have no doubt, would be Divinely instructed, and led to some 
poor discouraged disciple that was almost ready to sink into 
the quicksands of despair ; pressed down by the tremendous 
paw of grizzly bear-like creditor, who, not having received his 
interest, is sternly demanding the principal, or a judgment 
bond. Such a poor distressed brother as this, (and there are 
too many such,) after having spent a sleepless night in this 
street called Strait, where all the relief he could find was in 
prayer, should find at his door in the morning the good Ana- 
nias, addressing him in language like this — " Dear Brother, the 
Lord Jesus, to whom thou hast prayed, has sent me to give 
thee this money without usury : should it be a providential 
relief, let thanksgiving and praise ascend to the Giver of every 
good and perfect gift, and only let me be viewed as a Christian 
brother, that has done what was my duty to do." What lan- 
guage can describe the feelings, the gratitude and thankful- 
ness, that such a soul would realize ? What sincere love and 
friendship he must feel for such a brother ! Would it not 
lead to a friendship in Christ, that would knit their souls to- 
gether with stronger ties than Jonathan and David ? Yea, 
the sweet and grateful savour of such a good work might cause 
the children's children to glorify their Father that is in heaven. 
Let such of our precious youth be persuaded, especially those 
of a phlegmatic constitution, whose parents have left them in 
easy circumstances, to set such a practical example of ever- 
lasting righteousness, and thus lay up for themselves treasure 
in heaven. 

I will now close this part of my discourse with reference 
to the apostle Matthew, who appears to have been of a phleg- 
matic constitution, and was found by our Saviour at the receipt 
of custom— a steady, sober, business-like man — and though he 
might have been looked down upon by the priest and the Pha- 
risee, as a publican and sinner, that was very deficient in com- 
ing up to their traditional notions of the ten commandments, he 
was certainly an example in the eleventh commandment, which 
says, let every man mind his own business ; or, as Paul has it 
— " Study to be ■ quiet, and do your own business. '^ There 
never was a time when such men were more needed in our 
country, to balance the light, idle, gad-about, shackling spirit 



320 

of the age. Yes, I repeat it again, that such men as Matthew 
was, even before his conversion, are the very sinews of the 
state, and although they make but little profession to religion, 
what religion they have is in their hearts, not in their heads. 
Hence their prayers are more like the publican than the Pha- 
risee, short and to the point. And moreover, it appears that 
Matthew's steady attention to his business made him well off 
as to the things of this world, for he was the only one of the 
twelve that was rich ; but having become a disciple of Jesus, 
he was noble and generous with what he possessed, and made 
a great feast for his Divine Master, inviting many publicans 
and sinners. Mark, he had now become a follower of Jesus 
Christ, and was therefore then more willing to ppend and be 
spent ; to make ample provision for the comfort and enjoy- 
ment of his friends. Now had he been like some of our phleg- 
matic professors of religion, that want the custom of making 
large feasts, or public weddings, changed to less expensive and 
more private concerns, he might have reasoned as plausibly as 
Judas, /^ for what purpose is this waste ? this expense might 
have been saved and given to the poor;'' and, like Judas, not 
have cared for the poor, but to save money, to shave notes, or 
lay usury upon some poor brother. But dear Matthew was 
changed from this narrow contractcdness,having denied self, and, 
though a great cross, had left all the riches and honors of this 
world, to follow Christ, which led to the liberal, benevolent 
spirit embraced in the language of the prophet ; " And the 
cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down 
together." Had Matthew been like too many of our strong 
political men of the world, that are distinctly called with a high 
and holy calling, and righteousness, temperance and judgment 
to come so strongly impressed upon their minds, that, like 
Felix, they tremble under conviction, yet they continue to put 
it off to suit their own convenience; — I say, had Matthew been 
like these, and refused to follow his Saviour, what would have 
become of him ? even if he had continued to hold his lucrative 
office, and increased in wealth and popularity so as to obtain a 
seat in the Jewish sanhedrim or the Koman senate, where 
would he have now stood ? Would not his very name have 
been lost in the vortex of revolutions, instead of standing as it 
certainly now does, gloriously enrolled upon the records of 
eternity, while his gospel of heavenly truths adorns the first 



321 

pages of the New Testament of our Lord and Saviour Jesus 
Christ ; presenting his precepts and example as the most pow- 
erful and corroborating stream of everlasting light and love ? 

I come now to the fourth and last class of mankind, in 
whose material system, or animal body, the element of fire pre- 
dominates, and hence are called Choleric. Now these, like the 
phlegmatic, being stronger in intellect, the Lord's prophet 
makes use of the most powerful and courageous animal as an 
emblem of their unredeemed and wicked state— '^ And the lion 
shall eat straw like the ox." Now the lion is not only the 
most powerful and courageous, but the most destructive among 
inferior animals ; consequently the fear or dread of him is so 
universal through all animated nature, that he is styled the 
king of beasts. The besetting sin of men and women of this 
constitutional make is pride and arrogance ; proneness to an- 
ger ; impatient of contradiction, fierce, cruel. They are best 
described in the language of the patriarch Jacob : " Oh my 
soul, come not into their secrets — unto their assemblies, mine 
honor, be not thou united : for in their anger they slew a man, 
and in their self-will they digged down a wall : cursed be their 
anger, for it was fierce, and their wrath for it was cruel. I 
will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel." ^ 

This beautiful prophetic declaraion was not only verified in the 
scattering of the Jews as captives in all nations, but the same 
cause is producing the same efi'ects, from the domestic circle 
through ail the social compacts, in all nations, kindreds, tongues, 
and people : for wherever such men and women are found, 
even in private families, they will be head, or contend, quarrel 
or fight for it. Hence the direful altercations that too often 
take place between husbands and wives, parents and children, 
brothers and sisters, friends and neighbors ; and hence too the 
litigations that occupy our courts of justice, and the bloody and 
destructive wars, where the lives and property of men are des- 
troyed by the insatiable ambition of such men as Alexander 
and Bonaparte. But it is under the profession of religion, that 
a greater cause than the cause of empires and kingdoms is sor- 
rowfully injured ; for men and women of this class, when they 
profess to be religious, and have never denied self, or witnessed 
the lion to eat straw like the ox, become leaders of the people, 
(for leaders they will be,) that the cause of truth suffers; 



322 

which is abundantly proved by the page of history, from the 
orthodox priests and their satellites in the Jewish church, at 
the advent of the Messiah, down to the present day. For 
such choleric professors of religion are predisposed to be or- 
thodox. And here I wish distinctly to be understood as not 
casting any reflections upon my Friends that differ from me in 
opinion. What I mean by orthodoxy is that malignant, per- 
secuting spirit, that has shed more blood, and been guilty of 
blacker crimes, than any other spirit in Christendom. A spirit 
that I have detected in my own breast, that would lead me, 
through jealousy and envy, to hate a Christian brother or sister, 
for differing from me in mere matter of opinion, and which I 
am ashamed almost to think of. 

When such choleric men and women get to be leaders in the 
church, and are not daily concerned to deny self and take up 
the cross, they are some of the greatest stumbling blocks in 
the way of keen-sighted, intelligent inquirers. The self-will 
of such choleric people is the most beautifully described in the 
book of Job. In its primeval state, it is said to eat grass like 
the ox, and its increasing strength, while negatively innocent, 
is called behemoth; or, as the poetical language has it — ^' Seest 
thou not behemoth, that I have created with thee ? lo ! he eat- 
eth the grass as an ox.^^ It is then described as gradually 
leaving the Divine harmony, in the figure of leviathan, and 
growing into a monster, that causes the sea to boil as a pot ; 
and as a proof that it is the man of sin, or son of perdition, it 
expressly says, " he is king over all the children of pride," 
which cannot with propriety be applied to any animal creatui^e. 
Thus it appears plain to me, that this self-will, or strong law 
of animal spirit in men and women of superior talents, when 
brought back to its original state, by submitting to the condi- 
tions contained in the text, is clearly embraced in the figure of 
the ox — strong and powerful, but perfectly docile and submis- 
sive. Such have ever been the most distinguished instruments 
in the cause of Christ. Oh, my dear friends, that you could 
be persuaded to obey your Saviour's command — " Take my 
yoke upon you, and learn of me ; for I am meek and lowly of 
mind, and ye shall find rest for your souls :" and of all the 
souls of the children of men, such as inhabit an animal body 
where the element of fire is predominant, are the furthest at 
times from this rest; for unless their spirits are daily qualified 



823 

wltli the waters of life, they are ever liable to he set on fire of 
hell. Then their tongue becomes a fire, a world of iniquity 
among the members, that setteth on fire the course of nature, 
an unruly evil full of deadly poison. The misery and suf- 
fering that springs from this source are incalculable, and the 
safety of such entirely depends upon denying self, and taking 
up the daily cross ; they will then be concerned to watch and 
pray, and practise his blessed example of silence in the time of 
temptation. Then they may be angry and sin not ; for Jesus 
himself was thus angry, when he saw the hypocritical state of 
the priest and his satellites, that were watching over him with 
an evil eye, in a place of worship on the sabbath day ; and 
when he in mercy and goodness relieved a poor suffering crip- 
ple, they accused him as a sabbath-breaker, and tried to take 
his life, no wonder he looked round upon them with anger ; 
for he was grieved for the hardness of their hearts. Thus it 
appears that when anger centres in grief, it is so far from being 
sinful, that it may be a virtuous and useful passion. When 
anger produces a lust for revenge, it is a temptation to evil ; 
but it is no sin to be tempted except we give way to the temp- 
tation j and this lust for revenge conceives and brings forth 
hatred, which is sinful, when personally directed towards a 
brother or a sister, especially when finished by the death of 
the Lamb of God in the soul : for " he- that hateth his brother 
is a murderer, and no murderer hath eternal life.'' But to 
feel hatred as an evil in the temptation only, is essentially ne- 
cessary in order to overcome it. Hence we may imderstand a 
paradoxical saying of the Divine Saviour : " He that cometh 
after me, and hateth not his father and mother, his wife and 
children, his brethren and sisters, and even his own life, he 
cannot be my disciple.'' Hate is the opposite of love, and the 
apostle John says that " God is love ;" and by a parity of 
reasoning we may conclude that the devil is hatred ; now this 
evil must be made manifest by the light, and the sin of hatred 
must appear to us exceeding sinful before we feel the need 
of a Saviour to save our souls from it, and enable us to over- 
come it ; for it is impossible for us to be the disciples of Christ 
without overcoming sin, our soul's enemy; and it is equally 
impossible to overcome what does not exist : for if there be no- 
thing to war with, there is no warfare ; and if there be no 
warfare there is no victory. But Paul says, in reference to this 



324 

very subject : " Thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory, 
through our Lord Jesus Christ/' And that the true disciple- 
ship stands in the overcoming of evil through him that loved 
us, and gave himself for us, must be clear to all that believe 
this testimony; ''To him that overcometh will I give to sit 
with me on my throne ; as I overcame, and have sat down with 
my Father on his throne/' The first temptation to evil, pre- 
sented to a rational probationary creature, is when a child is 
restrained in the indulgence of its self-will by the power of its 
parent or guardian ; its little countenance will often be distort- 
ed with anger and hatred, and it will even strike its parent. 
But when the father or mother has witnessed an overcoming 
of this temptation themselves, they will exercise no other cor- 
poreal power but to hold the child still, while their souls will 
be engaged in fervent prayer to their Saviour for help, and 
while the tears of tenderness are rolling down their cheeks, the 
child will be baptized into the same precious spirit, and will 
then tenderly take the parent round the neck, and ask to be 
forgiven. Here is a victory over evil, and here is the true 
discipleship. A man, by the passion of anger, may feel hatred 
towards some action of his wife, and if he suffers himself to be 
drawn away and enticed by a lust for revenge, until this lust 
conceiveth and bringeth forth the sin of unkind treatment, he 
is on his way to eternal ruin ; but if, on the first discovery of 
the feeling of hatred, he prays to his Saviour for help, and ex- 
periences all anger and hatred taken away, and that love that 
everv good man ought to feel for his wife restored, he has 
gained a blessed victory, and consequently is a true disciple of 
Christ. The same is experienced in our intercourse with our 
brethren and sisters of the great family of mankind ; for too 
often either real or imaginary injuries make us angry, and we 
feel hatred towards them, which, if indulged, becomes the fruit- 
ful source of much evil; but as no disciple of Christ can let the 
sun go down upon his wrath, or in other words, can close his 
eyes in sleep with hatred in his heart against a brother or a 
sister, so he must forgive, as he prays to be forgiven ; in this 
exercise, he witnesses an overcoming of all hatred, and becomes 
more and more established in the discipleship — feeling love 
supreme to God his Creator, and love to all men and women 
his fellow-creatures. 

In the same probationary conflict, every Christian soldier 



325 



will feel sin to be exceeding sinful, and will hate his own 
evil life, that brings forth sin. Oh that yon, my dear friends, 
with my own soul, may so follow the Captain of our salvation, 
as to know the Seed or Word of Grod, to bruise the head of that 
serpent that is the author of all hatred against fathers and 
mothers, husbands and wives, brethren and sisters ; and so 
overcome as to be permitted to eat of the tree of life, that 
stands in the paradise of God. Be encouraged, my dear friends, 
that are of a fiery, passionate, vindictive temper, remembermg 
that where this abounds, grace doth much more abound ; and 
even where lust for revenge hath conceived and brought forth 
sin, and this sin reigned unto death, this grace of G-od, that 
brings salvation, may reign in righteousness unto eternal life, 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Some of the highest stars in 
the firmament of God's power have been of this class. The 
most valuable father in the church of Christ I ever knew, was 
a man of a choleric complexion, and in his first nature like a 
Hon; but when I knew him, he was as patient, submissive and 
powerful as an ox. He was truly to me a precious father, 
taking me by the hand in my youth, and leading by precept 
and example; and when my poor soul was under discourage- 
ment, or tossed on the tempestuous billows of confusion and 
darkness, he has taken me as it were in his arms, and, with all 
the tenderness of a natural father to an only son, he comforted 
and encouraged my poor drooping spirit. I never can forget 
his last, indeed I may say his dying, testimony, which was m 
substance like this : '' I have heard some Friends prophesying 
thee would fall ; but I said in my heart, God forbid ! and look- 
ing for thee with the eye of my mind, I thought I saw thee 
sitting at thy Saviour's feet, washing them with thy tears; 
and I said in my heart— Dear child, if he continues thus, he 
can never fall. I have compared thee, sometimes, to Peter 
when he promised his Master what great things he would do, 
but so weak and unstable as to perform but little. Thou art 
not yet acquainted with thy own weakness ; and yet, with all 
thy weakness and imperfections, I hope thou art a sincere be- 
liever, and so humbled at times as to feel the need of sitting 
at thy Saviour's feet to hear the gracious word. Ah! dear 
child, continue daily to repair to that secret hiding place, where 
thy enemy can never prevail. There may yet be a change m 
thy circumstances ; thou art now poor as to the things of thi^ 



326 

world, but having undertaken to be a farmer, thou mayst suc- 
ceed in that business, and if thou should become a great farm- 
er, thou mayest take a life in talking and boasting about thy 
great crop ; and like the hog under the acorn-tree, eating the 
nuts but never looking up to where they came from, be anxious 
to sell thy produce for a great price, and get rich ; and if in 
addition to this thou shouldst get to be a popular preacher, 
keeping company with the rich, and pleased with the praises 
of the weak and womanish, — I say, if I should live to see such 
a change in thy circumstances, I should be afraid thou wouldst 
surely fall/^ 

Ah ! dear, precious elder, thou wast worthy of double honor, 
and I would rather ten thousand times thou couldst have left 
me a portion of the mantle that clothed thy spirit, than the 
legacy of thy earthly estate. But I have still greater encour- 
agement for high-spirited, ambitious, fiery men and women, 
and shall endeavor to demonstrate to a certainty, that if they 
will submit to the terms contained in the text, denying self 
and taking up the daily cross, that the lion will eat straw like 
the ox, and they may become the most distinguished and useful 
disciples of Jesus Christ. For I have no doubt that the apostle 
Paul was of this choleric constitution ; and in the unregenerate 
state, while the carnivorous, voracious, cruel lion ruled in him, 
was one of the most malignant, bitter persecutors that ever 
lived • for he was so exceedingly mad against the children of 
God, that he persecuted them even unto strange cities ; but 
when it pleased God to reveal his Son in Paul, he gave up to 
the heavenly vision, and witnessed a wonderful change from 
the greatest sinner to the greatest saint; and this change or 
miracle was as much greater than turning a lion into an ox, as 
an immortal never-dying soul created in the image of God is 
greater than an animal body. 

Now it is worthy of the most serious consideration, that this 
wonderful miracle wrought upon the soul of Paul, by which 
he was changed from a proud, imperious theologian to a hum- 
ble, industrious follower of Jesus Christ, was effected by the 
inward and spiritual appearance of the Son and Sent of God, 
the only thing that ever made a true Christian, or ever will ; 
which Paul himself clearly shows by this memorable testi- 
mony ; " When it pleased God, who separated me from my 
mother's womb, and called me by his grace to reveal his Son 



327 

in me, that I might preach him amongst the heathen, (or gen- 
tiles) immediately I consulted not with flesh and blood, but 
gave up to the heavenly vision,'^ Hence it appears clear, that 
giving up to be led and guided by a Christ loithin, the hope of 
glory, not only made Paul a Christian, but furnished him with 
the only essential qualification for an apostle to the gentile 
world, which he further declares in this beautiful language : — 
^' Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the 
grace of God, given unto me by the effectual working of his 
power : to me, who am less than the least of all saiots, was 
this grace given, that I might preach among the gentiles the 
unsearchable riches of Christ: making all men know the 
mystery that has been hidden from ages and generations, but 
now is made manifest to his saints ; to whom Grod would make 
known what is the mystery of this glory among the gentiles, 
which is Christ in you, the hope of glory ^ whom we preach, 
whereunto I also labour, striviDg according to his working, 
which worketh in me mightily." 

I would wish here to give a view which I think is correct, 
and that is corroborated by matter of fact — that such profes- 
sors of Christianity as place all their dependence on the out- 
ward appearance of Christ, and what that body that was made 
of a woman and made under the law, suffered for them without 
the gates of Jerusalem ; I say these can come no further than 
the perfection of the law — no further than Peter came when 
he could fight, lie and swear. Indeed it is doubtful whether 
they come further than Paul came when he persecuted the 
church of Christ. Hence we may understand that sorrowful 
and affecting paradox, that Christendom is composed principally 
of warriors, liars, swearers, and oppressing, avaricious money- 
mongers. Now, as there must be a cause for this effect, I 
will try to show the cause, as I think it has appeared to me. 

There are three portions of the divine power given to the 
souls of the children of men, according to their state and situa- 
tion, in order for their salvation. These are embraced in that 
beautiful figure of speech made use of by the Divine Saviour; 
''The name of the Father, the name of the Son, and the name 
of the Holy G-host ;" (mark, the name and the powe^^ are here 
synonymous.) That portion called the name of the Father, 
was with the children of men when death reigned, from Adam 
to MoseS; and was as a light shining in a dark place, to such 



328 

as had not sinned, according to the similitude of Adam^s trans- 
gression, giving them some indistinct view of a great first 
cause, which they characterised by the terms of Ja, Jehovah, 
and God, which was systematised and enlarged by the introduc- 
tion of the law and the prophets ; by which God, at sundry 
times and after divers manners, spake unto the fathers, until 
He was pleased to manifest himself in the name of the Son. 
This Son, as Paul testified, was made of a woman, made under 
the law, to redeem them that were under the law. In this 
manifestation of the Divine power in the name of the Son, 
God not only gave to mankind a perfect pattern of everlasting 
righteousness, but the highest order of external evidence, by a 
display of his glorious attributes — his power in the most stu- 
pendous miracles — his wisdom, in a system of ethics embracing 
the purest republicanism, inseparable from the purest morality, 
the world of mankind ever saw— and, as the crown and diadem, 
the darling attribute of mercy that is over all his works, and 
by which God was moved to pardon guilty man, by finishing 
the transgression and making an end of sin, bringing in ever- 
lasting righteousness, and anointing the most holy, agreeably 
to the sublime view of the prophet Daniel. But the manifes- 
tation of the last and greatest portion of God^s power, mercy 
and goodness, in the name of the Holy Ghost, never took place 
till the day of Pentecost. Then Christ, the Saviour of the 
soul, made his second appearance, according to his promise, 
without sin unto salvation ; thus Peter received him, and be- 
came a true Christian, and never fought, lied or swore any 
more ; thus Paul received Christ when he appeared to him be- 
tween Jerusalem and Damascus, and giving up to the heavenly 
vision, he for ever ceased from being a persecutor : and thus 
were these eminent ministers qualified to preach the everlasting 
gospel in its blessed purity and simplicity, with the Ploly 
Ghost sent down from heaven; and hence they could say, in 
the powerful language of example. Follow us as we follow 
Christ. 

It appears then clear to me, that all that profess to be 
preachers of the gospel of Christ, and are in favor of war, have 
never been baptized in the name of the Holy Ghost; or in 
other words, have never had Christ revealed in them ; and 
therefore their dependence is in what Christ done without 
them, and as they can only teach as far as they have been 



S^9 

taught,-— and that is the outward manifestation which the Sa» 
viour declared was to be removedj or go away, that the Com- 
forter, or Holy Grhostj might come— it appears that our Saviour 
prophesied of those kind of preachers^ (for they are many) 
when he said, "Many shall come in my name, saying, I am 
Christy and shall deceive many/^ (mark, this personal pronoua 
/, that was to go away,) Now does it not appear clear that 
these many preachers, that are telling the people that this I^ or 
outward manifestation, is the Christ that is to save their souls 
and make them true Christians, are deceived themselves, and 
oonsequentiy are deceiving the people? That the people are 
generally deceived is evident from the spirit manifested through- 
out Christendom ; for instead of being Christ-like, by denying 
self and taking up the daily cross, manifesting an innocencCj 
liberality and patience, like the lamb, the kid, the cow and the 
ox, their fruits demonstrate to a certainty that self is the ruling 
principle, and that they are in their unregenerate state, and 
therefore like wolves, leopards, bears and lions-— devouriogj 
tearing, oppressing and killing one another. Is not this a truth 
that cannot be denied ? and if so, is there not a cause for this 
sorrowful effect 1 And can there be any other cause than that 
the fighting, lying, swearing, wordly-minded professors of the 
religion of Jesus, that compose the great variety of names in 
Christendom, have either never been baptized in the name of 
the Holy Ghost, or had Christ revealed in them, or they are 
disobedient to the heavenly vision and do not follow Christ ; 
and consequently are no Christians, but are at best only under 
the law covenant, that never could make the comers thereunto 
perfect? Hence the propriety of their dependence for redemp- 
tion on the propitiatory sacrifice of that that was made of a wo- 
man, made under the law, to redeem them that are under the law. 
But all that are come under the covenant of grace, are made 
true Christians, by having Christ revealed in them as Paul had, 
or baptized in the name of the Holy G-host as Peter was on the 
day of Pentecost, These have no need of going back more 
than eighteen hundred years to what Christ done without them, 
outside the gates of Jerusalem, for their hope of glory is now a 
Christ within ; and by looking for his blessed appearance in 
their own souls, they will too often find him crucified in the 
streets of spiritual Sodom and Egypt, where the truly awakened 
sinner, like Peter, weeps bitterly in seeing a suffering Saviour. 



330 

Such enlightened souls have no need to support speculation and 
superstition, by paying their money to see West's celebrated 
picture of a Christ rejected, for they can see with their spiritual 
eye the reality within themselves, whenever they have refused 
to comply with the conditions contained in the text, and have 
followed cursed self instead of a Christ within, the hope of glo- 
ry; — such, in substance, practically say, like the Jews that 
were blessed with his outward appearance, *' Crucify him, cru- 
cify him, and release unto us Barabbas f and as certainly ag 
Barabbas was a seditious murderer, this cursed self, as the prime 
agent of the devil, was a liar and a murderer from the begin- 
ning, and abode not in the truth. But all such as are obedient 
to the heavenly vision, denying self, taking up the daily cross, 
will partake of the everlasting advantages of the spiritual suf- 
ferings of Jesus Christ, knowing him in the present time to be 
a propitiation for their sins, These know, like Paul, a being 
crucified with Christ, and buried with him, in his spiritual bap- 
tism ; so that, like as Christ was raised from the dead by the 
glory of the Father, so they also walk in the newness of life. — 
These, and these only, have an experimental knowledge of that 
great, peculiar and standing doctrine of Christianity, delivered 
by the Saviour himself : '* Verily, verily, I say unto thee, ex- 
cept a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God; 
that that is born of flesh is flesh, and that that is born of spirit 
is spirit. Marvel not that I say unto thee, ye must be born 
again; the wind blowcth where it listeth, thou hearest the sound 
thereof, but thou knowest not whence it cometh, nor whither it 
goeth ; so are all they that are born of the Spirit/' 

Finally, my friends, farewell ! May the melancholy be en- 
couraged and the sanguine quieted ; may the phlegmatic be 
tendered and the choleric humbled ; may self be denied and 
the cross of Christ worn as a daily garment ; may his peacea- 
ble kingdom for ever be established in the rational, immortal 
soul ; then will be fulfilled the prophetic declaration of the 
infinitely wise Jehovah, through his evangelical prophet — 
'' The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard 
shall lie down with the kid; the calf, and the young lion, and 
the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them; the 
cow and the bear shall feed, their young shall lie down to- 
gether, and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The sucking 



831 

child shall play upon the hole of an asp, and the weaned child 
shall put its hand on the cockatrice's den. Nothing shall 
hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain, for the earth shall 
be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the 
sea/' 



WORD OF EXHORTATION 



YOUNG FEIENDS: 



PRESENTED TO THEM 



WITHOUT MONEY AND WITHOUT PRICE. 



BY A POOR ILLITERATE MINISTER. 



The following word of Exortation was written in connexion 
■with a Narrative of the Writer's Life, with no expectation at the 
time of its being published in any other way. But the present 
unsettled state of the Society of Friends seemed to lay him under 
an obligation to make a feeble, and perhaps last effort to restore 
that peace and unity for which Friends were once so remarkable,^ 
by offering his mite at this time. The excuse offered for the short- 
ness and deficiencies, observable to the reader, in the arguments 
on several subjects, therefore, is, that they were treated more fully 
and at large in the above mentioned Narrative. 



A WORD OF EXHORTATION 



Beloved young Friends, — 

I feel a religious concern thus to address you, to try to 
encourage you to fulfil a duty that I think will be required of 
you by the Great Head of the church, to endeavor to build up 
the waste places that your fathers may have thrown down, and 
gather the scattered and dispersed sheep, from the east and 
from the west, from the north and from the south, to Jesus 
Christ, the everlasting shepherd and bishop of souls, that the 
people who once called themselves the people of God, may 
once more be gathered into one. I had hoped at the time of the 
separation among Friends, I should live to see the Society come 
together again : but the wall that has been built by the Ortho- 
dox disownments, and the discipline that has been changed by 
the unsettling spirits among Friends, together with the feeble- 
ness of my hold on life, has dissipated that hope, and thrown 
it upon the rising generation. There is, however, now a valu- 
able body of religious Friends on both sides, that might easily 
unite, if they were not connected with the two sad extremes ; 
but these appear now to be going fast to their respective 
places, — the extreme orthodox to the church of anti-Christ, 
and the extreme ultra reformers to something like Unitarian 
scepticism; and a way is now opening for you, dear young 
Christian friends, to come together in the unity of the spirit 
and the bond of peace. Embrace then every right opportunity 
to promote this desirable end, by every act of Christian kind- 
ness and affection; this will prepare you to labor successfully 
in the church of Christ, bringing back our excellent discipline 
to the Christian standard, — throwing down that ridiculous wall 
of proscription, and for ever silencing all altercations and dis- 
putes about mere outward forms and inexplicable doctrines, 
those disgraceful bones of contention, that have been marked 
with darkness and confusion from the controversy in the 
Corinthian church, down to the unhappy controversy among 
Friends. 

I wish distinctly to be understood, that, notwithstanding I 
29 



388 

regret exceedingly the tremendous concussion that has shaken 
Friends to pieces, I am not prepared to condemn the part I 
have taken : far from it ; fully believing that after Orthodox 
Friends had determined to adopt that anti-Christian policy of 
disowning, that had scattered and distracted Friends in Ireland 
and New England, the peaceable plan adopted by the great 
body of Friends, composing the Yearly Meeting of Philadel- 
phia, assembled at Green street, 1827, was the very thing that 
saved, for the time being, the Yearly Meeting from total ruin. 
And it is now for you, dear young Friends, and Orthodox 
Friends, to carry out this plan as originally proposed, in the 
peaceable spirit of Jesus, with decency, forbearance and love 
to each other, and the Yearly Meeting of Philadelphia will 
continue to be saved, with an everlasting salvation ; and all 
honor, praise, thanksgiving and renown^ will be ascribed to 
the Saviour of the world. 

But in order effectually to attain to this desirable end, you 
must first become Christians, by a belief and faith in Jesus 
Christ, that works by love and purifies the soul. This belief 
and faith is the precious gift of God, and must be sought for; 
and let me tell you, dear young Friends, for your encourage- 
ment, what I most assuredly believe, that if you seek you will 
find, and if you ask you will receive. I know what I say by 
blessed experience; I speak the truth in Christ; I lie not. I 
sought on the bended knee of my soul, for this belief and faith 
in my blessed Saviour, and I know that it has been granted, 
with an increase of love for Mm and all my fellow-creatures ', 
and I verily believe that if I can be favored to continue my 
daily exercise of prayer, thanksgiving and praise, my heavenly 
Shepherd will keep me in humble obedience to a peaceable 
and happy conclusion in his everlasting kingdom. This belief 
and faith in Jesus Christ does not stand in airy speculation, 
nor a mere acknowledgment of what Christ done without us 
1800 years ago, though it reverences that stupendous event ; 
but it stands in an unshaken, experimental belief of what 
Christ is doing within us, as an omnipresent Saviour, saving 
us from sin by casting out the evil spirits, and curing the dis- 
eases of our souls. Oh ! the magnitude and importance of 
this distinguishing doctrine of the Society of Friends, which 
is nothing more nor less than the doctrine of the primitive 
saints, and the substance of the heavenly message to the gen- 



339 

tile world, " Christ within, the hope of glory J* Seek, then to 
know this Christ, as Paul did when he was revealed in him in 
such a glorious manner that Paul was determined to know no- 
thing but Jesus Christ and him crucified : do not lose this 
ever blessed knowledge, by vain metaphysical speculations 
about manner or form, that can never make you wiser or bet- 
ter ; for if ever you succeed in raising the Society of Friends 
from the dust of the earth, to put on its .beautiful primitive 
garments, it will be distinguished for practical righteousness, 
loving and helping one another, and for that plain way of liv- 
ing and plain way of preaching, that the father of the illustri- 
ous William Penn saw, if kept to, would put an end to priest- 
craft for ever. Return then, dear young friends, immediately 
to the path of humble industry — a path gloriously honored by 
the manifestation of Grod in the flesh — a path that will un- 
doubtedly lead to rational happiness in this world, and ever- 
lasting happiness in the world to come. 

And you, dear young friends, that are rich, submit cheer- 
fully to the unchangeable terms of salvation, as proposed by 
the Divine Saviour to a rich young man formerly, '^ Sell that 
thou hast, give to the poor, and come take up thy cross and 
follow me, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven.^^ Don't 
turn away as he did, sorrowful, lest in your case the addition- 
al testimony of the Saviour should be applicable, ^' How 
hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of 
heaven." " It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of 
a needle, than a rich man to enter into the kingdom." Think 
then of the uncertainty of all earthly riches, and their dread- 
ful opposition to entering into the kingdom of heaven. Think 
then, I beseech you, of the awfulness of what is now at stake; 
if you are obedient to Christ's commandments, your happiness 
is secured in time and in eternity — if you are disobedient to 
the heavenly vision, you lose all that is worth living for, 
while you may only gain what may constitute the fuel for 
everlasting fire. I will now seriously propose to such of you 
as are in possession of a superabundance of the riches of this 
world, a superfluity that undoubtedly has injured the Society 
of Friends more than all other superfluities, because in fact it 
is, directly or indirectly, the mother of all, as certainly as 
" the love of money is the root of all evil :" I say I will pro- 
pose, first, to the farmer that has 160 acres of land, to take 



340 

60 acres, with the buildings, for a home for himself and family 
— then sell 50 acres, and appropriate so much of the money 
as will put humble, comfortable buildings, &c., on the remain- 
ing 50 acres, making a snug farm ; put the rest of the money 
out to some poor Friend without interest — then tell another 
young Friend that is a farmer, and about to settle, but has not 
the means to purchase a farm, " Dear friend, take my farm 
and pay the taxes, and thee shall have it five years without 
any other rent ; that may assist thee to buy a little farm for 
thyself." Now it appears clear to me that 50, nay 25 acres 
of good land, with suitable improvements, are enough for any 
humble follower of Jesus Christ ; for if he is clothed with 
Christian humility, he will not be easy with any superfluity. 
Hence, his wants being few, his industry will more than sup- 
ply them, and at the end of every year he will have money to 
put out, which, if he is such a Christian as I wish him to be, 
he will do without usury ; as the Lord commanded his faith- 
ful servants and prophets from Moses to Ezekiel, more than a 
thousand years, and then gloriously asserted the same great 
commandment through Jesus Christ our Lord. Think then, 
dear young friends, of the blessedness and happiness insepara- 
ble from such a course of life, and the certainty of the condi- 
tions contained in the text, '^And thou shalt have treasure in 
heaven ;" an inexhaustible treasure, whose heavenly fruition 
will continue throughout the endless ages of eternity. But 
oh ! reflect with a seriousness proportionable to the awfulaess 
of the consideration, that if you will, in direct opposition to 
the high and holy command, continue to hold on to the riches 
of this world, remember that the declaration of the apostle 
remains an unchangeable truth, that '^they that will be thus rich, 
fall into a temptation and a snare, and into many hurtful and 
foolish lusts, that drown men in perdition and destruction.'^ 
The above proposition will apply equally to the merchant, the 
tradesman, and the several occupations of life, because every 
Christian undoubtedly ought to be influenced by that wisdom 
embraced in the prayer of Agur, the son of Jaketh, '^ Two 
things have I required of thee ; deny me them not before I 
die ; remove far from me vanity and lies ; give me neither 
poverty nor riches ; feed me with the food convenient for me, 
lest I be full and deny thee, and say. Who is the Lord ? Or 
lest I be poor and steal, and take the name of my God in 



341 

vain." These rational and heavenly views, so consistent with 
the fundamental doctrines of Christianity, liappy would it 
have been for the Society of Friends, had they more consci- 
entiously adhered to them, at the rising of worldly prosperity 
amongst them after the passing of the Toleration Act, at the 
close of the seventeenth century ; and continued to bring up 
their children in the path of humble industry, with no other 
dependence than the blessing of their Heavenly Father on 
their own exertions. This would have taxed their own re- 
sources, and called all the energies of body and mind into ac- 
tion, and hence there would have been a succession of stand- 
ard bearers, more resembling the blessed pattern shown them 
in the holy mount. One would have really thought that the 
single circumstance of William Penn's children (anticipating 
the great estate and popularity of their father) leaving the 
Society and becoming prodigals and politicians, would have been 
sufficient to have opened the eyes of Friends, to see the direful 
effect that expected estates and popularity has upon the child- 
ren of Friends; while the evil genius of usury, inseparably 
connected with such estates, influencing Quaker merchants of 
London, by the name of Ford, to sue William Penn at law, 
causing him to be arrested, taken from a meeting by the 
sheriff, and sent to prison for a debt composed in part of com- 
pound usury and trumpery, that abominable abomination to 
Christian justice and equity, — I say, one would have really 
thought all this would have been sufficient to open their eyes 
to behold the evil that was coming upon Friends by usury, the 
great high priest of the mammon of unrighteousness. Happy 
would it have been for the Society of Friends, had they recog- 
nised a testimony against usury with their other noble Chris- 
tian testimonies, when they embraced the religion of Jesus 
suffering on the cross, as beautifully described by a late emi- 
nent English writer, in a language like this, ^^ The glory of 
Christianity is its benevolent morality— its exquisite adaptation 
to the human heart — the facility with which it accommodates 
itself to the lowest human intellect — the consolation that it 
bears to the house of mourning, and the light with which it 
brightens the great mystery of the grave. To such a religion 
it can be no additional strength or beauty to make it a part or 
parcel of the common law. It would not be left for the first 
time to depend upon the strength of its own evidence, or the 

29* 



342 

beauty of its own attractions. Its sublime theology confound- 
ed the Grecian schools in a fair conflict of reason with reason. 
The bravest and wisest of the Caesars found their arms and 
their policy unavailing, when opposed to the weapons that 
were not carnal, and the kingdom that was not of this world. 
They, then, that would force temporal policy upon such a re- 
ligion, treat her as the Romans did her Divine Author; they 
bow the knee, and spit upon her, — they cry hail, and smite 
her on the cheek, — they put a sceptre into her hand, but it is 
a fragile reed, — they crown her, but it is with thorns,— they 
cover with purple the wounds their own hands have inflicted, 
and inscribe magnificent titles over the cross on which they 
have fixed her to suffer in ignominy and pain." 

Thus suff"ering about the middle of the seventeenth century 
in England, Friends embraced this high and holy religion ; 
happy would it be for the Society of Friends if they could 
continue in its bosom ! But if they do, it appears to me they 
must return to the heavenly precepts of its Divine Author, 
and recognise that great Christian testimony against usury, 
that was seen so clearly by the Waldenses, the brightest stars 
in the night of apostacy, a people that took their rise in France 
about the twelfth century, and continued, if I am not mistaken, 
undivided witnesses for Jesus Christ for near three hundred 
years, notwithstanding the violent opposition of the secular 
power, and bitter persecution of the priests. The instrument 
made use of to gather this people, was an illiterate merchant 
iilqiLyons^ who hired an ecclesiastic to translate the New Tes- 
tament into his mother tongue, by which he saw that heaven- 
ly commandment of Christ to the rich man, — '^ Sell that thou 
hast, give to the poor, take up thy daily cross and follow me, 
and thou shalt have treasure in heaven." He considered this 
commandment to embrace the unchangeable terms of salva- 
tion, and did not turn away sorrowful, reasoning with flesh 
and blood, but gave up immediately to the heavenly vision, 
sold his great possessions, giving to the poor, reduced himself 
to the necessity of laboring with his own hands for a living 
like the primitive saints. He was soon joined .by the true 
lovers and followers of the Lord Jesus ; adopting the sermon 
on the Mount for their creed, they carried it out practically, 
by bearing the most faithful testimony against hireling min- 
istry; and consequently against superfluous school learning. 



343 

idleness and pride ; and tlie strictness of their discipline 
against usury, and consequently against accumulating worldly 
estates, was such, that it enjoined even their ministers to be 
poor and illiterate, and earn their living by the labor of their 
own hands. They bore likewise a faithful and consistent tes- 
timony against war, and going to law, or taking an oath of 
any kind. These were the people that shook the very found- 
ation of the church of Anti-christ in Europe, without making 
any resistance whatever. But alas ! the evil genius of usury, 
or the love of money, joined with pride and power, produced 
a division amongst them, subdivisions soon took place, and 
they are now, if I am not mistaken, only to be found in frac- 
tional parts, spread over Europe and America, under the de- 
nominations of Menonists, Moravians, Anabaptists, &c. 

The Society of Friends have not existed as an organized body 
two hundred years, yet the same evil geniuses, namely, usury, 
pride and power, have already caused a division, if not a subdi- 
vision ; and if you, dear young Friends, do not arise, and shake 
yourselves loose from the fetters of Anti-christ, and put on the 
beautiful garments of primitive Christianity, I seriously fear, 
that before the close of the two thousand years, granted in mercy 
to the gentile world, the Society of Friends will only be found 
scattered in insignificant fractions, called Quakers, Friends, 
Orthodox Friends, Abolitionists, &c. Think then, seriously, 
of the importance of saving the Society, and removing obnox- 
ious epithets, by the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, 
following after practical righteousness, in the blessed exair ; 
of the Saviour of the world. 

I have not lived to be sixty -four years of age, without obser- 
vation on men and things as I have passed through the world, 
and my little experience I now affectionately offer for your se- 
rious consideration. I have observed a bad effect of expected 
property or estates from wealthy parents, on their children, and 
lived to see the ruin, as it were, of a number of the most in- 
teresting and promising families, in the little circle in which I 
have moved. Children too often anticipate the full amount of 
what their parents may possess, and in the indulgence of their 
cogitations, the enemy of their souls too often gains such an 
ascendency, as to tempt them to wish their parents or relatives 
dead, that they might get possession of their property ; hence 
that hardness of heart and difficulty of understanding, attend- 



344 

ing che settlement of large estates, that too often ends in con- 
tention and litigation, destroying all that affection and good 
feeling that ought ever to exist between brethren and sisters : 
hence, too, the sorrowful feelings that have too often clothed 
my mind when attending the funeral of the rich, when I have 
seen and felt what is so beautifully described by Blair, the heirs 
impatient to examine the will, looking upon each other with 
jealous eyes, already beginning to dispute about the division of 
property. How then can a Christian parent spend the best of 
his days in accumulating food for that worm that never dies, 
and fuel for that fire that is never quenched ? 

I have observed another bad effect upon the children of such 
as are in the pursuit of wordly riches, by their exposure to bad 
company, and consequently bad influence. Such as have large 
farms, or large business, must necessarily employ a number of 
hands, amongst whom are too often the most immoral and pro- 
fligate; and children seeming naturally fond of the company of 
such, it is in the hitchen, in the absence of the parents, that 
children too often receive the first rudiments of an education 
that is the ruin of their morals. It is too often in the kitchen 
of the large farmer or tradesman, that the poor bound girl is 
exposed to the wiles of the seducer, that too often leads to de- 
gradation, if not the ruin of her character for ever. I have 
seen myself, in my childhood, the most shameful and licentious 
conduct under the roof of the respectable farmer, in the absence 
of the heads of the family. On this subject I could say much, 
if it were not for brevity's sake, for my heart is full of sympa- 
thy and feeling for the sadly neglected and exposed children ; 
especially poor little bound children, and more especially among 
Friends. What answer will such parents and guardians make 
in the day of final judgment, should the following query be 
put to them, ^' What hast thou done with those lambs that 
were placed under thy care in the wilderness of the world V — 
How affecting must be the only true answer that too many 
wretched souls will have to give, — '^ I was so taken up with 
what I thought a proper provision, and laying up treasure on 
earth, that I neglected my proper care, and they have strayed 
away." Will not the righteous Judge say> — ^' Did I not tell 
thee plainly, to seek first the kingdom of Grod and his righteous- 
ness, and all things needful should be added ? And did I not 
pcssitively command thee not to lay up treasure on earth ? — 



345 

But thou bast broken my commandments, when thou knewest 
the condition of my friendship. For I said plainly, Ye are my 
friends if ye do whatsoever I command you ; therefore having 
broken my commandmentj as an enemy, thou must depart from 
me as a worker of iniquity/' 

Keflect seriously, my young friends, now in the morning of 
your day, of the vast importance of the salvation of the never- 
dying souls of your precious children ; and do not furnish the 
enemy with the means of tempting them to their ruin, by lay- 
ing up for them treasure on earth, where the moth of selfish- 
ness and pride corrupts — where the rust of usury eats like a 
canker, and gamblers break the laws of common honesty, and 
steal. But lay up for them treasure in heaven, by leading them 
in their infancy to the heavenly Shepherd, the Saviour of the 
world, and asking him in fervent prayer, to bless them with 
the earliest visitation of his heavenly love. Should you gain 
this great point, and be the instruments of kindling the devo- 
tional fire on the altar of their youthful hearts, you will lay up 
for them treasure in heaven, and will find but little difficulty 
in bringing them up in the way they should go, in the nurture 
and admonition of the Lord — in plainness of speech, behaviour 
and apparel — in frequently reading the holy Scriptures,, and re- 
straining them from reading pernicious books, and the corrupt 
conversation of the world. The Lord knows that I can declare 
here, without boasting, that I know what I say by blessed ex- 
perience, for I verily believe it was the dying exercise of my 
precious Christian mother, to present me in my infancy to Christ, 
who declared he had all power in heaven and in earth, and to 
beg of him to bless me with an early visitation of his love ; and 
that prayer was not only fervent but effectual, and I was led in 
early life to love and adore him, to pray to him in all my trials 
and troubles ; and in blessing, he has blest me with preserva- 
tion ; in multiplying, he has multiplied his favors towards me, 
and if I can only be humble and obedient, I have a hope he will 
crown me in the end with joy unspeakable and full of glory. 

Had I continued under the care of pious Friends, I think 
now that I should never have lost my first love ; for I loved 
their plainness of speech, behaviour and apparel, because they 
were nearer the example of the great Christian pattern : and 
when I arrived at the age of twenty-one, being renewedly visited 
with heavenly love, notwithstanding I lived among the Presby- 



346 

terians, and attended their meetings, I turned towards Friends, 
and not only conscientiously adopted their plain language, but 
took off my regimental coat with pleasure, and put on a plain 
drab ; and this being so contrary to my constitutional nature, I 
can attribute it to nothing else than the love of Christ, gracious- 
ly instilled into me in my very infancy — hence arises my great 
concern that you, my dear young friends, may bring your chil- 
dren early to Jesus Christ, the everlasting Shepherd and Bishop 
of souls. 

From the above observations and experience, I have now ar- 
rived at this conclusion, that if the children of Friends were 
rightly impressed with the love of Christ in early life, they 
would never leave the Society : for children are imitative crea- 
tures, and are naturally led to imitate those they really love 
and adore ; therefore, seeing in the blessed pattern the beauti- 
ful propriety of plain language, they would conscientiously keep 
to it — seeing in him that meekness and lowliness of mind, 
clothed with a seamless garment, they would never follow the 
foolish shows of a vain world — seeing, as they must see, with 
indubitable clearness, that the priests were the greatest enemies 
to the blessed Saviour in his outward appearance, and equally 
hostile to his inward, they would have no confidence in the 
deluded votaries of Anti-christ ; hence they would recognize 
Friends* great Christian testimony against a mercenary hireling 
ministry. Seeing in the blessed Jesus, the great principles of 
non-resistance, exemplified in his heavenly testimony against 
war, our young men could never become, or never continue, 
carnal warriors ; for they would understand what he meant, 
when he said, " My kingdom is not of this world : if my king- 
dom was of this world then would my servants fight. But 
now is my kingdom not from hence." His kingdom being a 
blessed state, arrived at by the redeemed soul, where there is 
no qualification for either war or politics, our young friends 
could neither elect others, nor receive any office of honor or 
profit themselves in the governments of this world, that are set 
up by the sword, and defended by the sword ; but would feel 
conscientiously bound, in justice, to leave these offices to such 
as are better qualified to fill them, as some indemnification for 
the risk of their lives, their property, and what they consider 
their sacred honor, in the field of battle. 

The Saviour's testimony against going to law being so clear 



347 

and conclusive, they never could prosecute any man on any oc- 
casion whatever, or appeal to the outward law for redress in any 
grievance ; and if sued themselves, could make no resistance ; 
therefore they would never be seen attending elections or courts 
of law, except when summoned there as jurymen or witnesses. 
And this great commandment of the Head of the Christian 
church, being so deeply inscribed on the tablet of their heart, — 
'' From him that would borrow turn not thou away, but do good 
and lend, hoping for nothing again, and your reward shall be 
great, and ye shall be the children of Grod," they could take 
no usury for superfluous money, but would rejoice in helping 
their poor fellow men and women. Neither could they hold 
a poor fellow creature in bondage, because all acts of injustice 
and cruelty are condemned in this remarkable saying, ^'As ye 
would that men should do unto you, do ye also unto them." 
Nor could they ever become drunkards, because the law of the 
spirit of life in Christ Jesus being in them, it would for ever 
keep them free from that law of sin and death. 

In a word, all those great Christian testimonies, recognized 
by the Society of Friends, and held up as a light to the world, 
having emanated from the great Christian Law-giver, they would 
be conscientiously embraced by the children of Friends, that 
had received a proper religious education, and in whom the love 
of Christ had been instilled in early life. Hence the vast im- 
portance of a religious education, and the awful responsibility 
that rests upon you, dear young friends, as delegated shepherds 
and shepherdesses, under the great Shepherd and Bishop of 
souls. Permit me, then, to beg of you for Grod's Sake — for 
your own souls and the souls of your children's sake — and for 
the sake of the cause of righteousness, as professed by Friends — 
unite again in the fellowship of the everlasting gospel of Jesus 
Christ, that you may be instruments in the Divine Hand, to 
save the Society of Friends from that vortex of anti- Christianity 
that appears to be ingulfing all the reformers from the church 
of Rome. 

I will now call your attention to the great importance of keep- 
ing up our religious meetings. Dear G-eorge Fox, in the last 
letter he wrote and left sealed, which was read in the Yearly 
Meeting, 1691, a short time after his death, begins with these 
remarkable expressions : " Keep all your meetings in the name 
of the Lord Jesus." This name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 



318 

which was so precious to the primitive saints, our early Friends 
considered the crown and diadem of all their meetings, for in 
them they experienced what the Lord's prophet saw in hea- 
venly vision, that this precious name was Wonderful, was a 
Counsellor, was an everlasting Father and the Prince of peace ; 
and they saw in heavenly prospective^ that of the increase of 
his government there should be no end. Hence the peculiar 
devotedness of their spirits while sitting in their silent meet- 
ings, that frequently the tenderness and contrition were such, 
that the floor would be wet with their tears when not a word 
was spoken. It is this devotedness and fervency of spirit thafc 
constitutes the very life of our religious meetings, and without 
it, a Quaker meeting, held in silence, is a dull, insipid concern, 
having neither form nor substance. Therefore it is no wonder 
that the greater part of our meetings for worship, both in Eng- 
land and America, are on the decline. 

Superfluity of wealth, and superfluity of scholastic education 
or worldly wisdom, have produced the love of worldly-minded- 
ness in Friends, and the declaration of the apostle John, that 
^' Whoso loveth the world the love of the Father is not in them,'' 
remains an unchangeable truth ; the love of the Father being 
inseparable from the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Such 
Friends as have not this precious life, are as dead weights in 
our religious meetings ; and when such seekers as are saying in 
their hearts, " Lord, who shall show us any good,'' come 
to our meetings, and see no evidence in the countenances of 
Friends that they have been with Jesus, but, on the contrary, 
see a sleepy, yawning, listless appearance, and feel no solemni- 
ty of devotion, they will go away discouraged ; and therefore 
our meetings must continue to dwindle, unless you dear young 
friends, gird up the loins of your minds, be devoutly sober, watch- 
ing and praying, least you enter into a similar tempation. — 
" The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Oh, this 
weakness of the flesh! don't indulge it, don't give way to it to 
the neglect of religious meetings, or it will be a let to still 
greater weakness ; for if it is our duty to meet together twice a 
week to worship our Heavenly Father, it is paramount to 
every other duty that relates to the things of this world, and 
faithful Friends will be blessed. I know what I say by expe- 
rience, for from the time I entered into covenant to attend 
meetings for worship in the middle of the week, I have no re- 



349 

collection of neglecting one, when I was able to go, for forty 
years. I speak not boastingly, the Lord knows — and now those 
meetings are more precious to me than ever, though I often at- 
tend them under such bodily infirmity, that I seem trembling, as 
it were, on the brink of the eternal world. Be ye therefore en- 
couraged. 

Our Saviour has promised, and will fulfil his promise, that 
'^ Where two or three are gathered together in his name, there 
will he be in the midst of them ;'' hence the great importance 
of taking heed to the dying exhortation of dear G-eorg-e Fox, 
^^ Keep all your meetings in the name of the Lord Jesus." — 
Oh the blessedness of true heavenly devotion ! it is a foretaste 
experienced by all Grod's children here on earth, of that fruition 
of bliss, which the ransomed and redeemed soul enjoys through- 
out the endless ages of eternity, and is certainly known by its 
own fruits, which are love unfeigned to G-od supreme, and uni- 
versal love to all mankind. It is holy, humble, harmless ; 
entirely separate from all justice, cruelty and pride, can love 
enemies, bless them that curse, and pray for them that act de- 
spitefally and persecute. Under the influence of this blessed 
spirit, my soul feels a sweet union and communion with all 
G-od's children in their devotional exercise, whether it is per- 
formed in a Protestant meeting house, a Roman cathedral, a 
Jewish synagogue, an Hindoo temple, an Indian wigwam, or by 
the wild Arab of the great desert with his face turned towards 
Mecca. The counterfeit of this UNDOUBTED EEALITY 
is a curse to the human family, and the mother of all religious 
superstition, hypocrisy and persecution, and has permitted the 
unregenerated Quaker to be high in profession and low in prac- 
tice ; the Puritan Presbyterians to rise from their prayers and 
their sacraments, to massacre in cold blood the Indian men, 
women and children, original inhabitants of the eastern shores 
of America ; the Catholic Crusaders to storm the cities of Pa- 
lestine, and after indiscriminately murdering the inhabitants, 
not even sparing the unoffending mother with her helpless in- 
fant, they rushed, under the influence of this counterfeit devo- 
tion, to the holy sepulchre, and prostrating themselves with 
tears in their eyes, kissed the very grounl on which it stood. 
The same cursed ungodliness of zeal, led the Jewish priesthood, 
with their satellites, to cause to be put to the ignominious death 
of the cress, the dear Son of G-od, who came to be their Saviour. 

30 



350 

In a word, it was this dreadful spirit that was iuscparably con- 
nected with the atrocious cruelties and treachery of a Jenghis 
Khan and Tamerlane ; that produced that everlasting thirst for 
revenge in the breast of the murderiDg Indian, and directed the 
prayers of the Arabian robber for the destruction of the unfortu- 
nate Christian mariner on his coast. I say it was this wretched 
inconsistency in Christian professors, and murderous treachery 
in other selfish mortals, presented to the eagle eye of the great 
Frederick, Voltaire and Spinoza, that led to that confederacy 
with other powerful wits of Europe, in a conspiracy against all 
religion, even aiming their deadly shafts at the person and stu- 
pendous miracles of the Saviour of the world. 

And oh, that I could stop here ! But what have I seen and 
heard in my own day ? A respectable member of the Society 
of Friends reading in his own house the productions of these 
wits, or their petty retailers, in the form of an Apocrypha to 
the New Testament ! This pernicious book, with others of a 
similar character — their spurious bible — designed to turn the 
holy scriptures into perfect ridicule, together with Paine's Age 
of Reason, (though only calculated to work upon narrow and 
debauched understandings) I have reason to fear, are to be 
found in the houses of too many respectable Friends. Oh ! will 
it not be an affecting and sorrowful consideration, if the people 
called Quakers, — whom the Lord Almighty appears to have 
raised up by his own invincible power, for the purpose of dis- 
pelling this black cloud, and so signally placed his name amongst 
them, that they bore a faithful and consistent testimony for 
more than one hundred and fifty years against those two tre- 
mendous enemies of the Christian cause, the orthodox persecu- 
tor and the deistical scoffer, — should now be found practising 
their spirit, and reading and harboring their pernicious publica- 
tions ? Alas! for the Society of Friends, unless you, dear chil- 
dren, unite as the young men of the princes of the provinces, 
under the ordering of the King of kings, to make war in right- 
eousness against this dreadful Gog and Magog, that appears to 
be compassing the very camp of the saints ! I conjure you by 
all that is sacred and dear, never indulge that bitter persecut- 
ing spirit, never read any of these abominable books ; never 
harbor these corrupt doubtings of a fallen world, but pray daily 
for an increase of that precious faith, that works by love and 
purifies the heart, and you will become established as pillars in 
the Lord's house, that go no more out. 



351 

I will now endeavor to lay before my young friends the 
concern I feel for the preservation of a living gospel ministry, 
which^ since the decline of the Society, has sadly dwindled 
into party declamation and political lecturing, with a multi- 
plicity of words without either life or power, scattering and 
dispersing on the barren mountains of empty profession. 
Should you succeed in the unity I have hoped for, be especial- 
ly careful in seeking for Divine wisdom in recommending of 
ministers, ever keeping in view this all important fact, that 
when G-od was pleased to send into the world the everlasting 
minister of the sanctuary, it was in the person of an humble, 
illiterate carpenter, and before he left the world, he chose for 
his successors the poor unlearned fishermen of Galilee. This 
important fact of itself speaks volumes ; which is well authen- 
ticated by the living experience of the first and greatest of 
Quaker preachers, a poor shoemaker, with scarcely scholastic 
learning enough to read and write intelligibly ] and so far 
from being eloquent, he was rather an unpleasant speaker: yet 
this was the instrument the great Head of the Church made 
use of to gather the people called Quakers, sanctify their con- 
gregations, and assemble their elders. Beware then, dear 
young friends, of being deceived by those superficial idols of 
a vain world, — eloquence, talents and. learning, — for you will 
scarcely be able to find one eloquent and learned preacher 
among Friends, from James Naylor to the present day, but 
what have scattered more by their spirit and example, than 
they have ever gathered by their preaching of the gospel. 

It is to me a matter of astonishment, that a disciple of Jesus 
Christ should be so anxious for the friendship of the world 
and the praise of men, as to sacrifice the legacy t)f a Saviour's 
love in pursuit of that echo of folly and shadow of renown, 
when the testimony of the Divine Master is so decidedly 
against it: ^^ These things I command you, that ye love one 
another. If the world hate you, ye know it hated me before 
it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love 
his own : but because ye are not of the world, but I have 
chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.'' 
I say it is a matter of astonishment to me, that believers in 
this doctrine should manifest such a love for the world's idols 
as to desire an eloquent, learned and talented ministry. Why 
may it not be truly gaid of such Friends, '^ What do ye more 



352 

than others ? Do not the deluded votaries of Anti-christ do 
the same ?" See the testimony of the beloved Paul, who 
knew what value to set on scholastic learning and human 
wisdom ; he certainly was religiously concerned to lay it aside 
entirety, and to consider it as dross and dung in comparison to 
the learning and wisdom of Christ. In his first epistle to the 
Corinthians, the first and second chapters, nothing can be more 
conclusively clear to my mind, than his testimony against 
those idols of a fallen world, — learning, talents and eloquence, 
the levers of the power of priestcraft, — "Ye see your calling, 
brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not 
not many mighty, not many noble, are called ; but God hath 
chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, 
and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound 
the things that are mighty/' And it is to me an encouraging 
consideration, that there is still raised up among Friends, a 
living gospel ministry, unadorned with the mighty and noble 
wisdom of the world, and we continue to have the gospel of 
Jesus Christ, in its blessed simplicity, from the stammering 
tongue of a weak, tender woman. This is the kind of preach- 
ing that has ever made the deepest impression upon my mind, 
and this is the only ministry I want you, dear young friends, 
to recommend ; ever having a watchful eye to its humility and 
nothingness of self, for when weak men and women suffer 
themselves to be puffed up with pride and religious conse- 
quence^ they are sure to fall into the condemnation of the 
devil. 

I could wish that Friends could see the propriety of draw- 
ing some line, or fixing some limits to the missionary travel- 
ling of their ministers. They have certainly been favored to 
draw the line with great propriety in their testimonies against 
war, oaths, slavery, and hireling ministry ; and as these lines 
were drawn from the precepts or example of Christ, I would 
propose that Christ's example should fix the limits of such 
concerns as ministers should feel to travel in the work of the 
ministry. Having already given my views touching this sub- 
ject, in the narrative of my life, I would only ask my young 
friends whether they can believe that the missionary labors of 
the several sects in Christendom have, upon the whole, sub- 
stantially benefitted the blessed cause of Jesus Christ ? If 
they can, they must reasonably give the preference to that so- 



853 

ciety that has done the most : hence, the Roman Catholic mis- 
sionarieS; particularly the order of Jesuits, will have the pre- 
eminence. But I am rather disposed to think that some, if 
not all, would unite with me in believing that these mission- 
aries have done more hurt than good : — and as enemies to civil 
and religious liberty, nothing but a providential interference 
has prevented them from destroying them both, ^^ Ye shall 
know them by their fruits : do men gather grapes of thorns or 
figs of thistles ?" 

I will now try to bring the subject nearer home, by asking, 
whether the cause of Christ, as professed by Friends, has 
been substantially promoted by all the missionary travelling 
of our ministers, beyond the jurisdiction embraced in his ex- 
ample, especially for the last fifty years ? If the present state 
of our religious society is permitted to answer, it will be con- 
clusive : and you, dear young friends, will be justified in 
drawing the line and fixing the limits, by the example of the 
Saviour, who, notwithstanding he could walk on the waters 
and ride on the wings of the wind, never travelled in the 
work of the ministry further than one hundred miles in a di- 
rect line. 

In reading the journals of Friends in the ministry, and ob- 
serving their spirit and conduct, especially for the last fifty 
yearS; I have thought that Pride, Luxury and Idleness have 
been a great injury to them : for there are so many weak, 
foolish men and women, who will directly or indirectly flatter 
ministers, there is such good living among wealthy Friends, 
so much ease and idleness, and so many that have their trou- 
bles and difficulties at home, in consequence of their not filling 
with propriety their social and relative duties, I fear that some 
ministers have been tempted to get up concerns to travel, 
when they had better have stayed at home. In consulting my 
own experience, I am bound, in common honesty, to plead 
guilty at least to the first of these charges. I have certainly 
too high a conceit of my own preaching, and as I know I have 
secretly suffered the torments of jealousy and envy, so I have 
reason to fear the cause of Truth has sufiered through me, for 
there is too much truth in that old saying, ^^ like, priest like 
people :" for a minister can only beget his own likeness : this 
is as certainly true as that a stream cannot rise higher than 
its fountain. But having already given, perhaps with too 

30^^ 



354 

much freedom, my views touching the spirit and conduct of 
ministers, I shall only say here, that I have observed in the 
journals and Tvritings of some valuable ministers, a morbid 
melancholy, that has cast a discouraging gloom over a cause, 
dignified with immortality and crowned with eternal life, — a 
cause infinitely greater than the cause of empires and king- 
doms,— an ever blessed system, designed for the perfection of 
human nature and the happiness of man in time and in eter- 
nity. The best cure for this morbid melancholy, (which I 
have seen too much of among religious people,) is humble in- 
dustry : what a pity then they would not eat less and work 
more. I would propose, what I think would be a great im- 
provement in Christian example, that ministers travelling in 
Truth's service should be more humble, and instead of going 
among the rich where they can fare sumptuously, and be wait- 
ed upon every day, go among the poorer kind of Friends, and 
such as have large families of little children; and let our travelling 
women, instead of carrying with them a superabundance of 
fine clothes, take a suit of working apparel, and turn into the 
kitchen and help the poor woman of the house, who is often 
tried and discouraged, especially when company comes, for the 
want of such help : let them wash and mend, and do all such 
work consistent with the perfect woman, as described by the 
inspired poet, in the last chapter of Proverbs. Oh ! how 
such women would endear themselves to such families, and 
leave impressions, especially on the minds of children, that 
would be of everlasting advantage. How infinitely more 
Christian-like would such an example be, than to sit idly in 
the parlors of the rich, to be waited upon and to be fed with 
luxury. Let our travelling men, if they are not shoemakers, 
learn the trade, like dear Samuel Bonas, or Bownas, did, and 
when travelling as Christian ministers, be more like the be- 
loved Paul, and turn in with Aquila and Priscilla, and work 
at their trade;— if they take two coats, let them take off their 
fine and put on their coarse ones, with their leather aprons, 
and hunt up the children's shoes and mend them. If they 
have leather, a healthy man would make a new pair for some 
of the family, by making the best of a long winter evening, 
and rising early in the morning. This would be helping the 
family where their lot was cast, — then they could preach the 
gospel with Christian boldness, and say, like the beloved Paul, 



355 

" We behaved not ourselyes disorderly among you, neither did 
we eat any man's bread for nought, but wrought night and 
day that we might not be chargeable to any/^ (Mark, the 
disorderly conduct that Paul here alludes to was idleness, a 
disawnable offence among the primitiye Christians — see 2nd 
Thessalonians, 3d chapter, from the 6th to the 12th verse.) 
How much more consistent would this be with the example of 
the humble carpenter of Nazareth, and the industrious tent- 
maker of Tarsus, than sitting in idleness in rich Friends' 
rocking chairs, cracking jokes, telling anecdotes, back-biting 
brethren and sisters, or musing and nursing fanatical melan- 
choly. 

Dear young friends, especially you that are called to the 
ministry, think seriously of what I now propose, that you may 
be the instruments in the Lord's hand, to gather the Society 
back to that rational consistency which secures a foundation 
that stands sure, — having this seal, the Lord knows who are 
his. Do not spend your precious time in idleness, nor sell 
your Christian liberty for money, lest, like Judas, you lose 
your part in the ministry, and others be chosen in your place. 
Let such as are poor, be content to be like their Divine Mas- 
ter, who had not where to lay his head ; but never, never re- 
ceive any thing like pieces of silver fr'om the rich, as the price 
of a Saviour. This species of bribeiy, I fear, has made too 
many Quaker preachers too much like the hireling, and tar- 
nished the lustre of some of the brightest stars that have 
appeared in our Society for the last fifty years. 

If I had my time to go over again, I think now most seri- 
ously, I never would recive a favor from any without making a 
compensation, unless T was so situated I could not help my- 
self; and in that case I would feel myself bound, when able, 
to mete unto others that which had been meted unto me, to 
the utmost extent of my ability. But there is no occasion for 
a young minister to get into such a street called Strait, if he 
will take the favorite advice of George Fox, ^'jVIindthe light;" 
or the excellent advice of our discipline, and keep within the 
bounds of his circumstances — if he earns but twenty-five cents 
per day, live on fifteen or twenty, and never go in debt nor 
ever borrow money. What a sorrowful and affecting sight, to 
see a minister of the gospel surrounded by a set of money- 
mongers, voraciously pressing their several demands, until he, 



356 

like Peter, in the awful confusion and impetuosity of passion, 
cuts oft" their right cars, or meanly equivocating like Peter, 
falsifying his word, becomes a liar, or in an extreme case, in 
the resignation of his property to his creditors, he may worse 
than swear in taking the affirmation; going out from the 
presence of his Saviour weeping, he may never return like 
Peter. Although I have never been driven to such an ex- 
tremity, I am yet free to acknowledge, that when the light of 
the countenance of Him, who possesses the awful attribute of 
Justice, has been turned upon me with a language like this, 
'' He that is unfaithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will 
commit to his care the true riches ?" I have wept bitterly as 
I stood trembling on the quicksands of despair. 

Oh ! dear young man, whoever thou art that may read this, 
keep to the path of safety, which is the path of humble indus- 
try, where thy wants will be so few that thy industry will 
more than supply them, putting thee always in possession of 
the means to practise Christian benevolence, and be taught, as 
Paul was by the Lord Jesus, that it is more blessed to give 
than receive. And if thou wouldst wish thy sons to be happy 
in time and in eternity, — if thou wouldst wish them to be bene- 
factors of mankind, or shine as stars in the firmament of God's 
power, bring them up in the path of humble industry,— bring 
them up with no other expectations than the blessings of hea- 
ven on their own exertions, with no other means than those 
which arise from a tax laid upon their own energies of body 
and mind. These are the men that, in the varied ages of the 
world, have always made the most sustantial pillars of the 
church and the strongest sinews of the state. As a proof of 
the correctness of this important position, I could bring many 
examples, but I shall only produce two— George Fox, and George 
Washington. 

Who was George Fox? The son of a poor Leicestershire 
weaver, brought up a shoemaker and shepherd, in the path of 
humble industry, and so far from having an academic or colle- 
giate education, he could scarcely read or write intelligibly ; 
yet this was the instrument the great Head of the church, the 
Saviour of the world, made use of to revive primitive Chris- 
tianity, and institute a code of Christian discipline the most 
simple, the most evangelical, and the most republican, in 
Christendom. This man, as a scholar in the school of Christ, 



357 

by humble obedience to his teachingSj was made a philosopher^ 
a naturalist, a divine, and a pillar in the Lord's house, that 
goes no more out — whose name has not only left a sweet sayor, 
grateful to surviving generations, but I trust will stand forever 
gloriously enrolled upon the records of eternity. 

Who was G-eorge Washington ? To make a parody of the 
language of a late historian, he was the son of a widow, born 
beneath the paternal roof of a Westmoreland farmer, on the 
banks of the Potomac. No academy ever welcomed him to its 
shade — no college ever granted him a diploma. To read and 
to write and to cipher, was the extent of his school learning, 
which he so improved in the path of humble industry, that he 
was found at the age of sixteen on the head waters of the 
Potomac, exposed to all hardships and dangers of a pioneer 
surveyor. In a word, a series of offices and appointments, in- 
volving the greatest responsibility, from his youth up, which 
he filled with perfect propriety and faithfulness, prepared him 
to stand at the head of a band of the most illustrious patriots 
the world ever saw ] a set of men, of whom the great Earl of 
Chatham declared in the house of Lords, ''That in the master 
spirits of the world, I know not *he people or the senate, who 
in such a complication of difficult circumstances, can stand in 
preference to the delegates of America, assembled in general 
congress at Philadelphia.^^ Such then was George Washing- 
ton, that distinguished instrument in the hand of the infinitely 
wise Jehovah, for establishing the American Republic, a sys- 
tem of government the most healthy and happy, the most suc- 
cessful and generous, now under heaven, whose benevolent 
institutions are becoming more and more the admiration of the 
world; and while virtue, liberty and independence continue to 
be esteemed among the children of men, the name of Washing- 
ton will be pronounced with veneration and respect by millions 
of intelligent beings. But, remember that I do not present 
G-eorge Washington as an example that I wish Quakers to 
follow throughout — far from it; much less would I represent him 
as a pattern of Christian perfection; I produce him as a con- 
spicuous matter of fact argument in favor of my important 
concern, that our American youth, if brought up in the path 
of humble industry, and thrown more on their own responsi- 
bility, even if they should not attain to the perfection of the 
Christian, would be most likely to make the greatest gentile 



358 

benefactors, or in otlicr words, the strongest sinews of civil 
government. 

Having now said sufficient, I hope, to establish the import- 
ance of bringing up the rising youth of America in the path 
of Humhle Industri/, I will try to express my views touching 
our Christian discipline, which I wish you, my dear young 
friends, seriously to consider. The Lord Jesus Christ, the 
only acknowledged head of our church, on discovering the 
seeds of aristocracy, priestcraft and kingcraft among his disci- 
ples, when disputing which of them should be the greatest, and 
even asking to be favored with pre-eminent seats in the king- 
dom, thus instructively reproved them: ^'The kings of the 
gentiles exercise lordship over them, and they that exercise 
authority upon them are called benefactors : but it shall not 
be so with you ; but he that would be great let him be as the 
younger, and he that would be chief as he that serveth ; for 
whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat or he that serveth ? 
I am with you as one that serveth.^' — " And ye are they that 
have one master, even Christ, and ye are brethren.^^ — Thus 
laying down the great principles of Christian government, 
which embraces the purest and most perfect system of repub- 
licanism the world of mankind ever saw. On this is founded 
our excellent discipline, as it stood after the re-organization of 
of the Yearly Meeting of Philadelphia, 1828, when we declar- 
ed that we had no new doctrine or discipline. The aristocracy 
and arrogance that had almost imperceptibly been increasing 
for years in those two great committees of care, that have with 
very great propriety the management of the religious and civil 
concerns of Society, during the recesses of the Yearly Meeting, 
— ^I say, this aristocracy and arrogance had been successfully re- 
sisted by at least two-thirds of the meeting, and that most im- 
portant republican rule of discipline was then established, that 
secures to the executive department of Society its legitimate 
authority or power, to appoint elders and members of the 
Meeting for Sufferings periodically. Never ^ never, dear young 
friends, let this great republican tcay-marh be removed. 

All the changes that have taken place in our discipline since 
1828, I fear have had a weakening and scattering tendency, 
especially that sorrowful change of our solemn, dignified man- 
ner of marriage. And here, while I would wish carefully to 
avoid impeaching the motives of my friends, I must express 



359 

my deep regret at such a sad mistake in bringing down onr 
Christian discipline to suit the anti-Christian state of our mem- 
hers, instead of laboring to bring the state of Society to be 
consistent with Christian discipline. Hence I fear a door is 
now opened for a proud, aspiring ministry to run a lucrative 
race of popularity. I forbear to give the plan I think now I 
could adopt, were I only thirty-five years younger, and possessed 
of the talents, learning, eloquence and principles of some of our 
young preachers. Suffice it to say, that such ingenious, insinu- 
ating ministers, first robbed the church of its perquisites, and 
finally turned the marriage ceremony into their own pockets ', 
and like causes may produce like effects, under like circum- 
stances. 

The lowering the dignified solemnity of G-eorge Fox's mar- 
riage, and weakening the sacred ties that should ever bind 
Christian men and women in that relation, has been peculiarly 
unfortunate as to time; for, independent of the alarming in- 
crease of applications to our Courts of Justice for divorces, 
there are men and women, professedly religious, that are revi- 
ving and practising a promiscuous intercourse that strikes at 
the very vitals of a moral decency. In the primitive church, 
this hateful Nicolaitan practice grew out of the community 
system, that prohibited its members from calling any thing 
they possessed exclusively their own, and when carried to the 
extreme, not even excepting their own wives. See Revela- 
tions, 2nd chapter, 15th verse. I say it has been peculiarly 
unfortunate to be nibbling and quibbling at our discipline in 
relation to marriage, at such a time as this, when I fear that 
too many of our own members are Nicolaitans in theory, if not 
in practice, considering marriage as a- mere convenient civil 
contract, that may be entered into in the most selfish and mer- 
cenary spirit. Oh, how different were the views of Fox, Penn, 
and Barclay ! 

I am aware of the power of the popular argument that can 
be brought against the position I have taken, — that the world 
of mankind are growing wiser and better, — that the people of 
the nineteenth century are far in advance of the people of the 
seventeenth, and that our Religious Society ought to keep pace 
with the march of mind. I admit there has been great im- 
provement in government, law, agriculture, engineering, ma- 
chinery, mathematics, &c.; for these are " the things of a man,'' 



360 

and therefore can be improved by the powerful '^ spirit of man 
that is in him/^ But "the things of God knoweth no man 
but by the spirit of God ;'" therefore man can never improve 
them. The Christian religion is one of the great things of 
God, that never has been improved by man, but remains the 
same inJBnitely perfect system that has for its object the most 
glorious work of the Almighty, even the redemption of the 
immortal, never-dying soul. Nor am I prepared to unite with 
another popular notion that has obtained credence among too 
many respectable Friends, that the primitive state of the 
church was only a weak, infi.nt state. This speculative delu- 
sion appears to me to have had its origin in ignorance, pre- 
sumption, or spiritual pride; because, by a fair parity of rea- 
soning, I might, as a professed minister of the gospel, come to 
this conclusion, that Jesus Christ and his first disciples were 
mere children, and that at any rate, I am a far greater Chris- 
tian minister noio, than the apostle Paul was then. Such pre- 
sumption and pride would prepare me to unite with the senti- 
ments of some of the most eloquent female orators, "That 
Jesus Christ is now but a very imperfect gentleman, and there- 
fore no longer fit for a Christian hero, and that Father Ma- 
thew in Ireland, has done greater works than ever Jesus done.^^ 
To me such sentiments appear the most awful presumption and 
pride ', and my very soul abhors them. I should, I think, find 
but little difficulty in exposing and refuting such absurdities, 
were it not that I wish to avoid all doctrinal disquisitions, and 
only exhort my dear young friends to keep to the doctrine and 
discipline of Fox, Penn, and Barclay; carefully avoiding the 
two extremes to which that doctrine and discipline has been 
exposed — orthodox formality, and sceptical ranterism. These 
two great enemies to Christianity spring from the same root, 
notwithstanding in their luxuriant growth they seem to lean in 
opposite directions; the first appears to have its empire in 
Catholic, and the second in Protestant Christendom. Ortho- 
dox formality, in its reign among the Roman Catholics, has 
written its own character with the blood of the Inquisition ; 
sceptical ranterism has given a sample of its terrors, when 
clothed with power, in the reign of Robespierre during the 
French Revolution. 

The Church of Rome, having added to its power a profound 
policy, that nothing but British jurisprudence could equal. 



861 

can now present a balance in numbers over its rival of at least 
thirty millions ; with something like a practical argument in 
favor of the popular theory, that the Christian religion is a 
progressive science : while the great variety of Protestant pro- 
fessors are, more or less, shook to pieces by sceptical ranter- 
ism, so that the Protestant professor in the nineteenth century, 
who denies the immediate teachings of Christ, through the in- 
spiration of his Holy Spirit, may hold the Bible in his hand, 
and not be a whit in advance of his brother with his Bible in 
the sixteenth century. In fact, from the best information I 
can get, I am brought to this conclusion, that all the move- 
ments of Protestant Christendom for the last century, have been 
an eccentric course, to and fro, without any advance whatever; 
hence, I am strengthened in the opinion that the church of 
Anti-christ is gaining ground, and will continue to gain . " till 
the times of the gentiles shall be fulfilled." — See Luke, 21st 
chapter, 24th verse. What will be the state of gentile Chris- 
tendom in the year two thousand, it is not for me to say ; but 
if the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the pro- 
phet, stood in the holy place, at the close of the two thousand 
years given to the LordV people formerly, what may not we 
Christians expect, when a Saviour shall, for the last time, weep 
over us in a language like this : "Hadst thou but ^nown, Oh 
thou ! in this thy day, the things that belong to thy peace ! 
but now they are hid from thy eyes — thy house is left tiHto 
thee desolate.'^ Oh ! that that peculiar branch of the Protes- 
tant church called Quakers, or Friends, could stand in their 
allotment in the last days of the Christian dispensation, and 
like the ransomed in Jacob and the redeemed in Israel, at the 
outward advent of the Messiah, turn many to righteousnsss 
and shine as stars for ever and ever ! 

I had hurried thus far, I fear, too precipitately to be suffi- 
ciently explicit, for I was not only very anxious, but fully ex- 
pected to close the concern after writing the last paragraph, 
without any further addition ; but having attended our late 
Yearly Meeting held in Philadelphia, from the 12th of the 5th 
month to the 16th of the same, inclusive, 1845, I was much 
encouraged and confirmed in the belief, that if you, dear young 
friends, will now come up unitedly and practically, to the work 
of the Lord, keeping to the blessed simplicity as it is in Jesus, 
the Society of Friends will yet be preserved, notwithstanding 

31 



362 

the great daslier-in-pieces has been so busy among us. I 
thought our Yearly Meeting was one of the largest and best I 
ever attended -, and while in the city I saw a book written by a 
John Wilbur, that not only informed me that Orthodox Friends 
were in a very unsettled state, but confirmed me in a view 
which I have had for some time, and will offer for your serious 
consideration. I believe the time has now arrived, when 
Friends will be renewedly called to follow the example of a 
suffering Saviour, who told his disciples when the bitter cup 
that he had to drink of was filling up before him, ^^ hereafter I 
will not talk much with you, for the Prince of this world 
cometh and hath nothing in me" — he then suffered in silence. 
It was right no doubt at one time, for him to talk much with 
his disciples, and in the most public places deliver those tre- 
mendous truths, that not only made his enemies tremble, but 
produced such violent anger that they sought to kill him, 
while his friends glorified God in beholding his mighty works. 
But when arraigned before the Jewish Sanhedrim, though 
possessed of powers of reasoning and eloquence infinitely su- 
perior to a Cicero or a Demosthenes, he suffered in silence ; as 
a lamb dumb before his shearers, he opened not his mouth. 
And when dragged to the Roman tribunal, to be sentenced to 
suffer the ignominious death of the cross, though he had le- 
gions of angels at his command, and could have dashed the 
whole Roman empire, as well as the Jewish nation, to atoms, 
he suffered like a lamb — " the Lamb of God that taketh away 
the sin of the world." 

Oh, that you, dear young friends, may seek to be established 
in this heavenly, lamb-like state, that can suffer in silence in 
the time of temptation and provocation, witnessing the spiritual 
appearance of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, as a quick- 
ening spirit, begetting his own blessed meekness and everlast- 
ing patience in your souls ! Then the tear of sympathy or 
sorrow that is thus produced by spiritual prayer, as it stands 
trembling in your eye, or steals silently down your cheek, will 
make a better and more lasting impression on the minds of 
those you come in contact with, than all the powers of eloquence 
and reason in self-defence. Oh, the preciousness of this silent 
suffering and indwelling of soul ! It appears to me to be that 
blessed state, shown to the beloved John by a heavenly vision, 
in the opening of the seventh seal, when there was silence in 



363 

heaven. When the vocal tribute of holy, holy, holy, and the 
hallelujahs of sanctified spirits in endless felicity, were sus- 
pended, there was a worship that continued in solemn, awful, 
inconceivable silence, a rapturous adoration too copious for 
language to express, that approached the throne of immaculate 
purity and love. This was the perfe<3tion of that state called 
the kingdom of heaven, which our Lord so emphatically de- 
clared was withinj therefore he could say while silently suffer- 
ing, "Now is my kingdom not from hence.^' This was the 
state the primitive saints were in, when they loved one another 
as Christ loved them, when they could pray without ceasing, 
rejoice ever more, and in everything give thanks. At this 
blessed state our early -Friends arrived, when the people 
of England were constrained to declare — " See these Quakers, 
how they love one another. ^^ These were the master spirits of 
genuine Quakerism, that more cheerfully entered the loath- 
some prison than the royal palace, and esteemed the locks and 
bolts that were turned upon them as jewels for Christ's sake. 
This state is most beautifully described by ane of them in the 
following language : " There is a spirit which I feel that de- 
lights to do no evil, nor to revenge any wrong, but delights to 
endure all things, in hope to enjoy its own in the end. Its 
hope is to outlive all wrath and contention, and to weary out 
all exaltation and cruelty, or whatever is of a nature contrary 
to itself. It sees to the end of all temptations : as it bears no 
evil in itself, so it conceives none in thought to any other : if 
it be betrayed it bears it, for its ground and spring are the 
mercies and forgiveness of God: its crown is meekness, its 
life is everlasting, its love unfeigned: it takes its kingdom 
with entreaty and not with contention, and keeps it by lowli- 
ness of mind: in Grod alone it can rejoice though none else re- 
gard it, or can own its life : it is conceived in sorrow and 
brought' forth without any to pity it, nor doth it murmur at 
grief and oppression: it never rejoiceth but through sufferings, 
for with the world's joy it is murdered." 

This is that precious life that is hid with Christ in God, the 
crown and diadem of the redeemed soul. Oh ! that Friends 
could have kept under the influence of this blessed spirit ; 
there never could have been any separation amongst them; 
there never could have been any contention and law-suits about 



364 

opinions and property ; there never could have been such a 
thing as two congregations of Friends, meeting in separate 
houses in sight of each other, with the dark scowl of Orthodox 
prohibition resting upon the brows of ministers and elders, 
should either presume to take a seat in the other's gallery. 
But alas ! seeing these things are verily so, let us try to cure 
the sad disease by love and silence. May you then, my dear 
young friends, be willing to follow the blessed Saviour in silent 
suffering, rather than continue the disgraceful altercation that 
has so sorrowfully divided in Jacob and scattered in Israel. It 
might have been right for the apostle Paul, at one time, to 
have disputed in the school of Tyrannus, and it might have 
been right for George Fox and early Friends to have met the 
high professing, deluded votaries of anti-Christ of their day, 
in verbal and written argument : but since the New Testament 
has been given to the Christian world, and miraculously pre- 
served from the ravages of tiine, and handed down to us as a 
blessed corroborating stream of light and life, embracing the 
highest order of external evidence in the infinitely superior 
precepts and example of Jesus Christ, I am induced to believe 
that all the religious controversies among professing Christians 
to the dawn of the Reformation, and from that time to the ris- 
ing of the day star among Friends, has done more hurt than 
good. And since the publication of Barclay's Apology for 
the true Christian religion as professed by Friends, all religious 
controversies and books of controversy about religion among 
Friends, I verily fear, have scattered more than they have ever 
gathered to the blessed Truth, as it is in Jesus. And I may 
add, I have scarcely a doubt in my mind at this time, that 
Friends departed from the peaceable spirit of Jesus, when they 
descended to a level with their enemies, in litigation and reli- 
gious controversy, in the late unhappy revolution. How much 
better it would have been for us to have suffered in silence, and 
like our divine Master, when the prince of this world, or the 
prince of the power of the air, that rules in the hearts of the 
children of disobedience, came, he could have found nothing of 
his own likeness in us : but alas ! this prince of darkness and 
confusion found us prepared to talk too much, write too much 
and preach too much 3 and hence he has continued too much 
with us. 

It is now for you, dear young friends, to witness this strong 



365 

man armed that lias kept the palace so long, to be bound and 
cast out, and bis goods destroyed ; be willing then, to follow 
the precepts and example of a suffering Saviour, who, in his 
spiritual appearance, is the only power that can bind this strong 
man. Don't talk with this strong man, — don't argue with 
him, — make no reply to his eloquent lectures or controversial 
papers, but silently drink of the cup of suffering the Saviour 
drank of, when his agony was such that the sweat, like drops 
of blood, fell from his face; for it is an affecting and sorrowful 
consideration, that Friends should have talked so much, and 
so vainly, and have entered into such bitter controversy about 
speculative and inexplicable subjects, that never have, and 
never can be settled by mortal man. Is it not a pity then, 
that they should have spent so much of their time and money 
in writing and publishing controversial papers to criminate 
and recriminate one another ? Manifesting a hardness of heart 
and obstinate bitterness, that has not only separated husband 
and wife, parents and children, brethren and sisters, but has 
even in death been carried to the house of mourning, and the 
awful brink of the grave — furnishing a shameful monument to 
the disgrace of Orthodox Quakerism. Oh ! let not this sword 
of malignant enthusiasm devour for ever ! Let not this bitter- 
ness continue to the latter end ! But remove this sad stum- 
bling block, ye precious rising youth of the Society of Friends, 
by coming up unitedly and practically to the work of the Lord. 
*^' Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, 'and clamor, and 
evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice. And be 
ye kind one to another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, 
even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.'^ 

Finally, dear Friends, farewell. Be perfect, be of good 
comfort, be of one mind, — live in peace, — and the God of 
mercy and peace will be with you. 



XiTj 



ir3Ap'27 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




007 197J74 












.v',-K.: 




;;:vfc 



, ;.'■■■,;'■-:' ;;::.',>'fa,Hb 



-'''.'i'.*?'* 



iiigi 









